Classrooms Beyond Borders: A Day in the Life

Ep 07: Uganda with Cyrus Muwanga

Meet Cyrus Muwanga, the director of Grand Maria School in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. We discuss the realities of education in Uganda, comparing public and private schools, including class sizes, sanitation facilities, meal programs, transportation, teacher salaries, and the integration of technology in the classroom. Cyrus shares that his school is one of the few primary schools in the country to have computers, and how even without internet connection, this access to technology is a benefit to students.

Ep 06: Tanzania Classrooms with Benjamin Kappande

Meet Benjamin Kappande, a teacher from Tanzania, who started teaching in the rural Ngorongoro Crater area - the gateway to African safari! He has since moved to Arusha, a city where he has opened a private primary school and runs an after school club for mentoring youth. Our conversation explores the realities of education in rural Tanzania such as immense overcrowding, lack of resources and the resourcefulness of teachers and students alike. He tells about Friday afternoon school trips where all students carry jerry cans to the river 30 minutes away to fetch water.

Ep 05: Nigeria with Busayo Okewale

Meet Busayo Okewale, a primary teacher from the urban area of Lagos, Nigeria who teaches at an international private school. She explains the differences between private and public schools, the challenges faced by teachers, and the impact of low wages, technology and electricity on education. Busayo shares insights into the school environment, student nutrition, language learning, and the integration of AI in teaching, while highlighting the need for quality education for all children.

Ep 04: Peru (Amazonia & Lima) with Valentina Miranda

Meet Valentina Miranda, a teacher from Peru, who has taught in rural Amazonia and now teaches in the capital city of Lima. She shares her experiences teaching in rural areas and the challenges faced by educators and students alike. She discusses the cultural diversity of her students, the impact of malnutrition on learning, and the significant differences between rural and urban education.  She also juxtaposes the rural education experience with that of more fortunate private school students in Lima, Peru’s capital city. Valentina emphasizes the importance of language and access to nutrition, safety and technology in education, as well as the need for empathy and support for students.

Ep 02: Kenya STEM Hub with Moses Okoth

In this conversation, Cammie Kannekens speaks with Moses Okoth, an educator from Western Kenya, about the challenges and opportunities in the rural African education sector.  Moses operates a STEM Hub, where children come on the weekend from nearby schools to learn about coding (Microbits, Ozobots, Sphero, etc) and drones. They discuss the infrastructure issues, the importance of STEM education, the impact of technology on learning, and the need for resources and support for teachers and students. Moses shares his belief that AI can transform education in Africa and the significance of small-scale solutions in addressing local challenges. Follow Moses on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/moses-okoth-60565b27/]. Connect with Moses at mosadee.okoth2@gmail.com