Thursday 18 February 2010

Liberating a Library

Sometime before Christmas I had visited a nearby school and learned that it used to have a library. This was before the room was taken back into use as a classroom due to increased enrolment when girls were encouraged into school. Anyway, I enquired as to what had happened to the books. The Headteacher proudly showed me boxes of beautiful books locked away in her cupboard. I can only imagine how long they had been there, but enrolment rocketed several years ago.
I beseeched her to get these back into the children's hands and there and then we spent more than an hour sorting the books. I asked if we could deliver some to the classes but she said she would need to talk to the staff about what they wanted to do.
From time to time I would check to see if there had been any progress but sadly the library was still held captive. At last I could stand it no longer and arranged a date with the Headteacher to talk to the staff and distribute the books. I asked her to ask the children to collect some boxes to put the books in and I arrived armed with strong tape and marker pens.
We started to repair and strengthen some of the boxes. Here is the Headteacher at work.The children had collected loads of boxes and made a huge pile at the office door. This caused much excitement since we couldn't get out of the office and nobody could get past.

We selected the best looking boxes and then asked the children to share the rest out among the teachers as useful sources of cardboard for making TLMs (Teaching and Learning Materials to you and me)

The Primary 6 students helped us to sort and group the books. Many other pupils kept watch through the window.

They were enthusiastic in their task.

I helped with the box strengthening ....

And the sorting....
And pretty soon we were all ready for the teachers to come and join us for the big share out!
Madam Paulina, the Headteacher had by now found a big book and contented herself with reading this aloud to us while we worked.

The teachers duly arrived and I talked to them about the statistic which says only 11% of P6 children (top Primary) can read with understanding in our area of Ghana. I explained how crucial it is that students have access to books and learn to treat them properly. We discussed how the staff would model this for the children over the next couple of weeks and then invite small groups to browse books calmly together. Many of the books were in brand new sets and were ideal for guided reading techniques, so I have promised to go back and give a demo of how to run a guided reading group.

Lists were made of the books as they were put into the boxes. I would like to say that the staff looked excited about the process but I might be stretching the point.
So, job done.....library liberated!
Hopefully going to be thoroughly enjoyed by the children and improve the reading standards in this school.
I spotted these lovely ladies as I left the school and asked if I could take their picture. I am still amazed at how effortlessly women manage their babies and balancing things on their heads.

Monday 15 February 2010

Shared and Agreed Values at the District Education Office

Back in November when we properly started the Organisation Assessment of the District Education Office, one of the first things to come to light was that there were in fact no shared and agreed values for working there. Having diagnosed the problem, everyone in the office was given a small piece of paper and requested to list their three key values. Some got terribly carried away and I had to suggest to the guy who had listed 17 values that perhaps he should stop there! These papers were then consolidated and read out at a whole office at the Monday morning meeting on 14th December. Everyone was amazed at the consensus. However, there were loads of values and it was agreed they should be limited to about seven. After the Christmas holiday I sat down with a member of GES staff and we grouped what was suggested and managed to come up with this list.

Agreed VALUES of this District Education office

All staff should support the GES Directorate in any way possible in order to raise its image and help to achieve its Mission.

Be Professional – be smart in appearance and do an honest day’s work.
Be regular and punctual – to work and meetings, also carry out assignments on time.
Work as part of a team – with cooperation, respect and encouragement for one another.
Be constructive in your communication – handling issues with objectivity and fairness.
Share knowledge and experiences acquired at meetings and workshops for the good of all.
Use resources efficiently and effectively.
Fulfil your responsibilities – be disciplined and pay your dues regularly.

If an Organisation Development process goes well,
it never stops.
It becomes a way of life.
January 2010

I had to hang on a week or two until there was a slot in the Monday morning meeting agenda and then on Feb 8th the Assistant Director read them out to the staff. We asked that as a sign that they had been read, understood and people intended to comply with these values, they should sign the paper upon which they were mounted. I think the photos tell the story.
This week when the District Director arrived in the office and saw what had been done, he literally jumped for joy and immediately picked up a pen to sign. He has also suggested that we make wallet size versions for every member of staff to read before coming to the office each day. He says he will personally pay for them to be laminated. They will probably look like this

West Mamprugu DEO
Organisational Values
• Be Professional
• Be regular and punctual
• Work as part of a team
• Be constructive in your communication
• Share knowledge
• Use resources efficiently and effectively
• Fulfil your responsibilities

The clock that I bought for the office is also frequently referred to and our Monday meetings start on the dot of 8.30am (and usually finish about an hour later) . We have removed the 2004 calendars from the office walls and taken down out of date postings and extremely tatty posters.

So, small steps in the right direction!