Tico Community School

THE SCHOOL

Tico Community School enrols children aged three to seven from nearby villages and has only a simple church building in which to hold lessons for over 60 students. Some of the children have been orphaned recently, so attending school gives them much-needed support and care.

Despite the limited space and resources, the two Zambian teachers, Miss Priscah Isiteketo and Mr. Aggrey Lubinda, are doing a wonderful job, giving the children a firm foundation of basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills. They also provide each child with a drink and snack at the end of the day’s lessons.

The school year begins in January and runs for three terms. The nearest Government primary school, about 5km away, awards places in Grade 1 only to those children who have attended a pre-school like Tico Community School. This year (2009), 23 children from Tico have been awarded admission to Grade 1, a wonderful achievement for the children and the teachers.

A COMMUNITY VISION FOR THE FUTURE

The nearest secondary schools are in Livingstone, too far for daily travel. Attending school in Livingstone is not only expensive, it also exposes children to greater health and security risks, as they have to stay in lodgings away from the family home.

In the future, all primary education could be provided by community schools in the area. The existing primary school nearby could be upgraded to a secondary school. Thus, this self-help community school project is a stepping stone towards a brighter future for the rural children.