Interviewing young counselors in Igoma School

Interview of young counselors and young counselors asking the same questions from their class (6th grade) in Igoma school

Combination of answers:

What do you like best in school?                          

Learning to read, environment, studying, sports, math, english, teachers, becoming smart, being good at something, science, gaining profession

Why is studying important?

Key to good life, learn so much (some answers), hear stories, knowledge and skills (several), learn to think, meet friends, better future (several), get to know my talents, can escape bad things, express myself, know what’s right or wrong, remove ignorance, help having a family some day, reading and writing, to help my parents, get a job, help the poor, develop my country, new information, learn to respect others (several)

What are you good at?

Sports, studying, class work, singing, math, drawing, discipline, being smart, reading, respecting others, keeping environment green, being present, taking care of equipment, history, english, replying, cleanliness

Things you could do better at?

Sports, being first in class, math, drawing, geography, science, english, history 

Do you know how you could improve at those things?

Talk with friends, study hard, ask teachers

Which one of you doesn’t know what to do to improve?

Only a couple

Do your parents value the education?

Some do, some don’t. We also hear a story of one younger sister who couldn’t attend school because of father who didn’t care about education. Telling this story made her big sister cry.

How could the school be improved?

Start a library, IT- more computers, more sports, more teachers, more desks, basketball, food, more sport equipment, more books, water

Young councillors in Igoma School

Dream jobs?

Doctor (many!!!), lawyer (several), pilot (several), soldier (some), president (some), driver, teacher, councellor, vetenarian, reporter, policeman, professor, the Pope, engineer, historian, scientist, priest, mechanic, politician, businesswoman

Has anyone asked you this question before?

Teacher, mom, dad, grandparents, sisters, cousins, friends, a stranger on the street  

Who do you turn to in case you have problems?

Family (several), friends, counselor, teacher

Why is it difficult to talk about your problems?

Fearing the teacher, shame, if friends spread the rumours, lack of trust

Do you know the rules of the school?

Wearing the school uniform, not leaving the school area, not fighting, respecting adults, no eating in the classroom, being on time, only using swahili or english, no relationships, no foul language

What kind of punishments are there at the school?

Physical punishments, suspension, work

Which one do you prefer?

Physical punishments (several)

At this point we introduced other forms of punishment that we use in Finland. The majority preferred detention

Are you following the rules better after the punishment?

Short term- yes, long term - no

Do you know why it is important to have rules?

Yes

Do you know what punisment follows from certain violation?

No

 

After this we allowed students to ask questions from us. One of the question was that do we invite the students to Finland. We replied, ”If you study hard and work hard, you will find the way”.   

Text and photo by Jasmine Mustonen & Ilpo Rantanen