Ng’ongo Primary School was established in the year 1995 and is located in TA Mtwalo in Mzimba district in the Northern Region of Malawi. It is one of the beneficiary CBCC benefiting from a 2 years School Readiness Initiative Malawi Project (SRI) funded by Rodger Federer Foundation and is implemented in TAs Jalavikuwa, Mtwalo, Mpherembe and Kampingo Sibande in Mzimba North.

Ng’ongo Full Primary School has one class for standard 1, has also 11 teachers for other classes, has school management committee of 10 members and Primary and Teachers Association Committee. All these members collaborate in implementing School Readiness Initiation activities and other developmental activities at the school.

Emmah Mzumara is a standard 1 teacher at Ng’ongo Primary School, she has challenged the head teacher that she did not have a dream of teaching standard 1 children, because its not easy to be a standard 1 teacher. “When you teach in standard 1, you should have passion and be creative enough in sourcing and developing the learning and playing materials for the children”. She said. “I did not have any dream of teaching in standard 1 class; in the year 2020 I was shifted from standard 7 to teach in standard 1 class, I refused and informed the headteacher that I don’t want to be a standard 1 class teacher, I can’t manage to be a standard class teacher but the headteacher insisted that I have to be in standard 1 class, it was like an insult to me” she said. She accepted though she was not happy, “2 months later I was privileged to be trained in Know How Course together with the caregivers which was conducted by Livingstonia Synod trained through School Readiness Initiative Project”. Said Emmah

It was this when Emmah joined Ng’ongo learning group, she was guiding caregivers and leading the sessions at a learning group during module 4 discussions, she saw that very interesting and motivated her, the content were helpful and started applying the content to her children in standard 1. She was reading the know how manuals and this has helped her a lot in teaching the standard 1 children. She was even borrowing the tablet from the caregivers and able to read the content in the tablet and able to make learning and playing materials for the children. She then acquired more skills from know how course on how she can be teaching standard 1 children.

Ngo’ongo Headteacher to the far right with an award

Emmah is an outstanding standard 1 teacher in Mzimba district because she now has the all the knowledge, skills and techniques in teaching the standard 1 children through knowhow knowledge, she even said this during the graduation ceremony to the audience gathered at Ekwendeni Primary School where the event took place, she even said that she don’t want to be shifted from standard 1 class, she will remain in standard1. “It is very much interesting to be a standard 1 class teacher if you have the skills and references to guide you, know how course and Early Learning Kiosk has been my guiding tool” she said.

Emmah in a blue blouse attire addressing the audience how know course has benefited her  

The passion which Emmah developed in participating in the know how course has made her to to have a vision for her class and children, developed more learning and playing materials for her children, able to observe her children in class how they are conducting the activities that she is teaching them. She proudly said that she has completed the knowhow course, done Pre course, all module quizzes and post course, and always apply the knowledge she has acquired to the children.

Indeed, Ng’ongo Primary School has been outstanding because of her, this made the school to receive awards of congratutory certificate and money amounting to 50,000 MK, and part of the money has been used to buy some materials like tyres for the natural playground for the standard 1 children. Emmah was very happy that her school has received the awards because of her. She proudly said that she will continue being a standard 1 teacher and continue guiding the caregivers.

The headteacher, teachers, school management and Primary and Teachers Association committee are happy with the work of Emmah as indicated by the headteacher that know how course has really assisted Emmah to have passion for standard1 learners and is so creative and this has made her children in standard1 to like school.

The SMC chairperson also testified that Emmah is a good teacher, she loves her job, she has also mobilized us to come up with the materials for the natural playground, also sensitised parents in checking the books of their children after school, supporting and teaching their children at home.

“We really thank SOLINIA through SRI Project for the knowledge imparted to Emmah our standard 1 teacher, this has made our school to be outstanding because her; we will continue working hand in hand with her and give all the support that she needs even if the project phases out because we have a capable teacher for our standard 1 learner”. The head teacher commented.