Beginning of Formal Education for the Children of Sekoly Tenaquip
The Tenaquip School was officially opened January 9, 2010 by the mayor, bishop, president of the township and the governmental representative of education for the area. Most of the people living in the five villages that make up the township came out to witness the big event. A plaque was mounted which announces that this school is made possible by the generous donations of the Tenaquip Foundation of Canada, and is a joint effort between the people of Glengarry and the community of Ambohiborosy.
The opening and celebration began at 9 am and continued until 3 pm with many speeches, and much eating, singing and dancing. People showed up in their Sunday best, despite the fact that the last kilometre of road into the school was completely washed out due to the rains. It was a treacherous ride for the big celebration cake which had to be carried in! Only the officials arrived in vehicles, however, as the village people travel everywhere on foot.
The 112 children were now ready to begin their education in a brand new school. Colourful desks and chairs greeted bodies which had never experienced the comfort of a chair, other than a church pew. Most homes have neither a table or a chair, and people sit on logs, or stones outside. The children quickly showed their ability and intelligence as they began their formal learning, got used to the routines of school and arrived each day at least a half hour before school began. The flags are raised on Monday morning ( the Canadian flag flies alongside the Malagasy flag), and the children sing their National anthem. This process is repeated every Friday, as one lucky child gets to be the one to lower the flags.
As a kitchen was not yet built, the parents put together a make shift kitchen area protected from the ferocious winds by a tarpaulin strung around. Two mothers took charge of the meals, cooked on a fire in the middle of a ring of rocks, and provided a nutritious meal each day for all the children to eat in their classrooms.
One cannot help but be struck by the incredible respect that these children show to each other and to their elders. If one was to walk into the room while the class was in progress, the whole class of children would rise to their feet and chant “Good Morning Madame Kathy”. If one is to ask “How are you” they will respond all together with “I am very well thank you and you?” They stay standing until they are invited to sit down, and then they all chant “Thank you” and get seated again. As the teacher hands out the copy books, they hurry to the front when their name is called and sing a thank you to the teacher. When they do a lengthy response, (i.e., counting to 100 by 5’s) they stand to speak. As they pass to come in the door to class, they say “Excuse me”, and bend down with a hand making way in front of them. If a child answers a question well, the rest of the class will chant “Good job, good job, Tsiry (the name of child) and the child will respond “thank you”. They are also very shy, as a people, and my first visit is usually met with smiles and giggles from down-turned heads. They sneak a peak at me when I am not looking at them. If a child arrives late to school, they pause in the doorway. The class all stand up and greet the new arrival at which point he/she says “Good morning teachers and my friends.” They respond with “Come in and join us”. It is all quite refreshing to see. It feels much like the way it was in Canada perhaps 50 years ago or more.
I stand there watching all this, over flowing with joy. It is almost too wonderful to believe!
- Kathy