Cadre Course for Tanzanian Primary School Teachers of Arusha Region in Environmental Education

Confronted with globalisation, i.e. open markets, international business and tourism, pollution, aids, emigration and immigration, the education system in Tanzania faces new challenges. On this background the analysis of the situation showed that the following problem areas are of great relevance:

• English language competence
• Competence in environmental knowledge and adequate behaviour in dealing with pollution and its prevention.

To improve the competence of the population in general schools will have to take over a decisive role in imparting knowledge, ability and practical approach.

But the teachers can only take over this task if they themselves get the chance of improving their academic knowledge, their fluency in English and the methodology in teaching the two subjects.
With this regard the following solution approaches are recognised:

1. To enhance individual English language competence of the teachers;
2. To enhance individual environmental knowledge of the teachers;
3. To present adequate methodology for teaching those two subjects;
4. To develop and establish respective in-service teacher concept;
5. To offer cadre-courses in English language and Environmental Education.

With regards to the background and the specific financial and personal capacity the Commission for Educational Co-operation (ECOP/PEZA) of the Swiss Teachers' Association (LCH) and the Tanzanian Teachers’ Union of Arusha Region elaborated a plan for improving the quality of English language and Environmental Education in the primary schools of the Arusha Region. Since the total number of schools in the area is almost 900 the two sides agreed on building up the project according to the cascade principle.

After having received their qualifications in the previous seminars the cadre (expanded from 15 to 75 teachers) will be ready and should be inclined to take over the task as trainers of the future expert teachers at school level. They are going to help their fellow teachers by improving their teaching methods, designing teaching aids etc.

The project therefore aims at

• increasing the English language competence of primary school children by enabling the teachers to introduce pupil-centred teaching methods;
• initiating an environmental awareness among primary school children by facing them with respective topics in various subjects.

The Center for Social-Ecology of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences Winterthur (ZHW) has been invited to participate as Swiss facilitator in Environmental Education.
More information you get by the respective ZHW lecturer in charge Vicente Carabias-Hütter, E-mail: crb@zhwin.ch or Phone: +41 52 267 76 74