My leadership week: An African adventure

Barry Payne, headteacher of Parkside special school in Norwich, reflects on one week in Namibia – part of a three-month visit as part of the Leaders in International Development (LiID) programme.

Monday

After a cramped 10 hour cab journey with my fellow heads Shay and Geoff I arrive in Ongwediva, not far from the Angolan border. We spent our first three days in Namibia in Windhoek completing a VSO induction on issues such as personal safety, health and local culture. I’m told about my placement in a brief meeting with the inspector in charge of my work. A VSO volunteer, Penny, drives me to nearby Oshikuku and introduces me to Mr Kamwi, Principal of Nuuyoma Secondary School. He says that he is a Kaprivian and can’t speak the local language, but assures me that most adults within the school system speak English and that all pupils from the age of eight are taught in English.

I get to my house which is a bit of a shambles, but Bonnie, a Canadian volunteer who lives next door, has done her best to smarten it up. Once I’ve unpacked and put pictures of my family in place I’m suddenly hit with the thought of wondering what on earth I have done. A reassuring text from my wife makes me realise I am actually looking forward to starting work in the school.

Tuesday

Very little sleep due to the heat and humidity. Bonnie gets up at 4am to do her washing and cleaning as it is cooler but I decide to have a lie in until 5am! School starts at 7am and my morning is spent with Freda, the school councillor.

I’m shadowing her for the week to get used to the school system. but no-one has told Freda.

She’s very nervous of me being with her all the time so I decide to spend one day with her and then find my own way around the school. Nuuyoma has 659 learners of which 212 are said to be orphans. The children are wonderful, keen to learn and ask me about England. Over 550 children live in the school hostels; very depressing places which remind me of Victorian prisons. However the children are always immaculately turned out.

Wednesday

I spend the day observing lessons and working with Bonnie. She mostly talks about maths – my strong area – so I’m happy to help her. In Namibia there are no supply teachers, so I found classes waiting for a teacher to arrive. They ask me to teach them, so I lead a geography lesson about England, the UK and Europe in general. They are genuinely interested and want to know more. At the end of the day I meet with the principal, and agree the four main areas of training that I could deliver. I had noted that they had special needs learners, but Mr Kamwi insisted there were none! In the evening I start clearing up the garden which is full of goats as well as empty bottles left by a previous resident.

Thursday

I was to meet the inspector, but he’sforgotten our appointment. Instead, I go into Nuuyoma and continue my induction into the education system. In the afternoon, I visit Mupewa Junior School, and meet with a young, enthusiastic principal named Mr Angala. Unlike Nuuyoma’s principal, he seems really keen to have me working with his staff.

When I get home there’s no water. Bonnie informs me that was why they keep lots of plastic bottles of water all around the house. Apparently this is a common problem.

Friday

There’s no space for me to work in school today so I put together my report for Mr Kamwi in my room. It sounds too critical so I tone it down. I also read the previous year’s inspection report. Poor teaching, professional standards, conditions and the general lack of leadership were highlighted, but, a year later nothing had changed. Shopping at lunchtime to get some essentials.

The water is still off, so plenty of drinks a necessity as is bug killer to sort out the cockroach problem in the house. In the afternoon I start preparing the workshops for Nuuyoma Secondary School. Mr Kamwi seemed delighted with my progress, but as I find out, preparation is the easiest part as engaging the staff is more difficult and sometimes impossible. My meeting at Mupewa Junior School is much more fruitful. That night Penny picks me up to take me back to Ongwediva where I meet up with Shay and Geoff and we share our experiences, both good and bad!