Tattaguine Junior High School

Pierre Faye - Posted on February 23, 2009

In September, you read the story of Florentin, an education champion, supervising the construction of three classes in Tattaguine. Today, these new beautiful classes have opened giving new facilities to the students of the village.

Mr. Diagne, an English teacher is so happy to work inside a newly built classroom. He remembered before when adequate facilities in the village were seldom. In the past, teachers used to teach in locally made shelters, made of millet sticks. During windy days, teaching in such a place was difficult.

New beautiful facilities welcome visitors to Tattaguine. Thanks to the partnership between and churches in the United States, learning conditions have improved. The students can learn now in a safe place. This has been possible through the united efforts of partners who work hand-in-hand to make it happen.

The collaborative efforts of World Vision in a project called Church Partnership has been very fruitful. Substantial funding from the United States has enabled World Vision to support the construction and equipment of three new classes.

When we enter in Mr. Diagne’s class, the students sung in chorus: “Thank you World Vision.” Augustin Seck, a World Vision agent was so proud that World Vision has contributed to improve the learning conditions of the students. The Senegalese have invested a lot to enhance the access to education through the construction of new classes throughout the country, but still many villages are waiting to have enough classes.

Two years ago, Tattaguine faced a shortage of classrooms. The manager of the Tattaguine programme, Michel, and the management at the national office developed a partnership with churches in Colombia and Alaska. Today, thee new classrooms have risen from the soil meaning for the parents children of Tattaguine a big relief.

“My heart is filled with a great joy when I see the students going at school knowing that they will have there safe and new facilities,” says the chief of the village, Jean Marie NDour.

The community, for their part, is doing all their best to participate in the education of their children.

“Since we have started partnering with World Vision, in every meeting they emphasized the fact that community participation is determining in the success of every project. That’s why despite our limited means, we have collected money to start building other three classes. We need to finish the roofing and finishing work to make these classes operational,” says Florentin, the President of the Parent’s Association.

The school needs more classes. Three students sits at one desk, this shows the need to have more classes. That’s why the parent’s association, with the support of World Vision, is looking for additional funding to finish the three that that been started by the money coming from community participation. Restrooms, an enclosing wall and running water in the school are the things that the association needs to be supported. Most of the time, when school don’t have enclosing wall or fences, roaming animals and horse carts pass inside the school yard.

To protect the students against the harmful presence of animals, it is recommended to build a wall to allow the teachers to work in a quiet environment free from distractions.

“Thanks to the church partnership,” said the students in chorus. All the community prays that this example be a snowball. “Hand-by-hand by uniting our efforts we can build big things. We pray for the generous donors who made this dream become a reality. Boys and girls of the village can now learn in good conditions. We admit that a lot more needs to be done in the area of education to enhance the quality,” Florentin says.

To enhance the quality, many efforts should be done to advocate before the government so that good teachers in sufficient numbers be sent to villages, like Tattaguine. Due to the crisis, recruiting teachers is a challenge for the government.

World Vision and the education authorities are working in close partnership to improve the situation.

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