A GROUP of teachers have travelled 7,000 miles from Tanzania in a special trip to visit primary schools across Worcestershire.
Travelling from schools in the Anglican Diocese of Morogoro, which is twinned with the Church of England Diocese of Worcester, the six teachers each visited their partner schools in the county in order to teach the students about their culture.
The week-long trip saw the teachers visit Norton Juxta Kempsey CE First School in Worcester, Bredon Hancock’s Endowed CE First School in Bredon, St Barnabas’ CE First and Middle School in Drakes Broughton, St. Kenelm’s C of E Primary School in Romsley, Halesowen, Malvern Wells CE Primary School in Malvern and Pendock CE Primary School in Pendock.
The school partnerships, which were set up in 2012 to create a more global approach to learning, have allowed teachers from Tanzania and Worcestershire to visit each other and gain an insight into different teaching methods.
Visit coordinator, Patsy Brumage, said: “We had six utterly delightful teachers come over to visit who shared the culture of their country with our small Worcestershire schools.
“It was absolutely wonderful and fantastic, they spent the whole week teaching the students really interesting things from their culture. They were singing, doing artwork and even taught the children to count in Swahili.
“Part of this project is to open people’s minds. We can be very narrow-minded and one of the big things is to open the minds of children and teachers to other cultures on a first hand basis.
“Going to any African country can make such a difference to widening the horizons and minds of English teachers, who in turn will influence our young people. The benefits are mutual.”
The teachers were treated to a tour of Worcester, including a visit to the Cathedral, which finished with Evensong before the Bishop of Worcester welcomed them to a meal in the Old Palace Restaurant in the diocesan office.
The Tanzanian teachers were very impressed with what they saw in the different schools. Philipo Ugala, whose school of Kikundi is twinned with Norton Juxta Kempsey CE First School, said: “I will be having a meeting to discuss how we can adapt the ideas I have seen and incorporate them in our school within the constraints of our class size and lack of resources.”
Diocesan World Church Partnerships Officer, the Reverend Doug Chaplin said: “Building friendships across the world matters more than ever and it is good to play a part in helping African and English schools develop links which broaden the horizons of both teachers and children.”
