SOS Schools in Ethiopia

SOS Nursery School Addis Ababa

During the year, 134 Children attended their education in the nursery school. Out of these 61 of them were community children while the remaining 73 were children from the SOS Children's Village Addis Ababa. Of the total children coming from the community, five were given scholarship.  All students were promoted to the next level, out of the graduates, children from the successfully passed entrance exam of Geja Kale Hiwot Primary School.

During the elapsed year, experience sharing program had been conducted with eight neighboring nursery schools and good practices were adopted. The SOS Nursery School was selected as a member of the Kebele Education Board that is responsible to control the quality of education. In order to insure that quality education is provided in the nursery school, parent-educator meetings were conducted and feedbacks were collected to change areas requiring improvement.

The nursery school organised an entertainment and educational trip to students at Bora Amusement Park.  A total of 106 children took part and enjoyed themselves.

The SOS Nursery School graduation day was colorfully celebrated on the Ethiopian Flag Day. Small flags donated by Addis Ababa Millennium Office made the celebration more colorful. In total, 39 children who were successfully completed their nursery schol education graduated, among them 20 were from SOS Children’s Village Addis Ababa.

 

SOS Nursery School, Awassa

SOS Nursery school Awassa is currently hosted by SOS School Awassa because of the transformation of its premise to IGCSE School. Phasing out temporarily to nursery class 2 (last year) and pre-school level (this year), the nursery school has been working on the holistic development of 65 children both from SOS Children’s Village Awassa and the local community. 

 

These children have been guided through different activities that ensure the whole person development of the children and that prepare them for first grade education in the primary school. They have also celebrated different programmes and holidays that helped them learn some social skills and values. To mention but few, they have celebrated birthdays, Ethiopian Christmas, Ethiopian Easter, SOS day, and graduation of the pre-school children. 70 children who completed the three year nursery school education successfully have graduated and transferred to the SOS School for primary education. The graduation ceremony was held in the presence of parents, SOS community, invited guests and officials from Education Bureau. Various activities conducted by the children themselves and by the educators and volunteers made the programme livelier.

 

SOS Primary and Secondary School, Awassa

Opening in 1985, the SOS Primary and Secondary School Awassa is still keeping its position as regards to the provision of quality education to its students and has more than 900 pupils with 16 classes. Its presence in the town not only helps its students build a better future, but also it is challenging the quality of service provided by other private schools. It is in the process of continually diagnosing itself and infusing its environment with change and improvement ideas. The roles of the teachers, the administrative body, and school parents keep on changing with identified needs of students and the school itself. This belief and approach has helped the school to build on its strength and to score an even better student achievement. All students who wrote the two National Examinations have successfully passed with glaring scores; with more than seventy per cent of them scoring 4.0 in a 4.0 scale.

Different measures taken by the SOS National Office and the school itself helped decrease teachers’ turnover. We trust that one of the factors that contributed for the success of the school is the settlement of the teachers. On top of their duty as instructional leaders, teachers are involved in a multitude of activities and programmes taking place in the school. They support students in the organisation and running of co-curricular programmes in the school. In this specific role, teachers have helped students in the development of certain critical skills. This includes the identification and nurturing of one’s talents, and the planning, leading, monitoring, and reporting of co-curricular programmes. The many presentations made by the clubs during several occasions have witnessed that these important skills have truly been developed in them.

The school was also seriously engaged in the provision of tutorial support to those children of ours who have difficulty dealing with the curriculum of the school. They have been assisted by SOS teachers based on their identified needs. The assistance was of paramount importance in addressing the needs and in promoting these children one level higher. Parallel to this programme, the school was also running acceleration programme. This is a special support to students who are preparing themselves for the entrance examination of IGCSE School Awassa. In his programme, the students are guided through the special syllabus dispatched by IGCSE School.

The academic year was concluded with the celebration of what people conventionally call it “Parents Day”.  School parents, various government officials, students and SOS community attended this event. Students who scored the best results in their respective cycles and grade levels have been awarded prizes. Enlivening activities of drama, competition, music and the likes were staged. One of the biggest events of this day was the graduation of senior high school students. The graduates were given diplomas and medals to be kept with them as souvenirs.   

 

 

SOS Nursery School, Bahir Dar

The SOS Nursery School Bahir Dar has been working on the physical, social, emotional, and sensory developments of the children. One hundred six children from the community and the villages have been attending their Education at the Nursery school.

Children have been taking part in different celebrations and activities. Among the most prominent ones were Ethiopian Christmas, Easter and graduation day of preparatory class children. Thirty-five children successfully completed their three years Nursery school Education and moved to the SOS School. Three of these graduates were children from the village. Parents had a considerable contribution in the preparation of the graduation magazine.

Different visits were organised for the second and third age group children. Additional outdoor play materials were purchased and fixed to ensure that children have enough play materials. Parents of new entrants were given orientation on the general work system and demands of the nursery school.

Our Nursery school is still making the lead in the provision of quality nursery school education in the town as well as the Region. Government and private nursery schools pay visits to our nursery school regularly for experience sharing purposes. The City Education Office also conducted workshop and experience sharing sessions at our Nursery school.

SOS Primary and Secondary School Bahir Dar

The SOS School Bahir Dar, opened in 2003, and is one of the best performing schools in the Amhara Region and is about 565km from the capital Addis Ababa. The establishment of our school has revealed significant impact on the cluster schools in the vicinity and the whole city at large. Our school facilities are all open for cluster schools to come and learn from the provisions. Some of the cluster schools usually bring their students to our laboratories for a demonstration of some of the practical science lessons. Others who do not have duplicating machines in their custody come to us to duplicate exams and other educational materials. Owing to its possession of one of the standard football fields in the town, our school has hosted five of the inter-regional football matches that took place in the city of Bahir Dar. 

 

The school sustains provision of quality education for four hundred nineteen children, at nearly full capacity, in both primary and secondary levels. Out of this total population seventeen students from economically disadvantaged families have been granted SOS scholarship opportunity. As usual, in the present academic year, the school has maintained hundred percent promotions and the overall achievement of the students is improving regularly. Parents' involvement and participation on the process of strengthening the provision of quality education through sharing ideas and providing of constructive feedbacks, comments and training has been encouraging in the whole academic year.

One of the core objectives of the school in the academic year 2008 was up grading to the preparatory level.  Currently thirty nine students are attending their education at the preparatory classes. It is believed that the opening of the preparatory classes has its share to enhance the provision of quality education among cluster schools in the vicinity. 

The cooperation and partnership with cluster and other private schools in the neighborhood has helped our school extract worthwhile experiences that helped improve the teaching-learning process. The planning, delivery and assessment of the curriculum went even better this year as a result of experiences gained from the partnership and the collaboration with other SOS Schools. This has impacted the achievement of students pretty well. The curricular programme is always supplemented with a well thought out co-curricular programme. Children are given the opportunity of participating in the club of society of their interest. In this programme, children explore their talents, develop them and enjoy the success that follows. This programme has also helped in improving the social skills of the children. The clubs and societies give presentations every month according to preset schedules. These presentations not only made the school life livelier, but also they gave the students sense of fulfillment and pride. The school also runs academic support programme for both high achieving and low achieving children of ours. Students sought to have been limited by the curriculum are given the chance of working with a high rigor extra work or supplementary material, while those to whom the curriculum is a bit of a challenge are assisted to cope up with it.

 

SOS Nursery School Gode

The SOS Nursery school is the only one for the town of Gode. Currently, it has a total of 101 students out of which 42 are girls and 59 are boys. For the first time since its establishment, one of the grade levels in the nursery school has now more girl than boys in the classroom.

In August, an educational trip was organised for the children where they visited “Ethiopian Television Agency”. In this educational trip, nursery school 1 and nursery school 2 were organised into one group, while nursery school 3 above children constituted the second group. The celebration of Parents’ Day and nursery school students’ graduation ceremony was organised on July 6, 2008 in a very warm and colorful way. During the event, 21 top ranking students were awarded with different prizes. More than 25 students had graduated from the nursery school marking their way to the SOS School.

SOS Primary and Secondary School Gode

The SOS School in Gode, which opened in 2005, has now been expanded by one grade level. We have grades one up to seven. There are a total of 212 students. Out of the 212 students, 58 are female and 154 are male.

The school has been undertaking several academic and non-academic measures and interventions to improve the quality of its education services. To mention some, student academic progress continuous assessment policy has been in place.  As the result, a quality homework and quality test schedules have been formulated for all grades.
 
As part of its co-curricular activities, the school has formed different clubs such as debating and environmental clubs. In the academic year 2000 E. C (2nd quarter of 2008), the two clubs mentioned above had organised different activities in the school.

The school is also providing basic computer skill lessons for grade 4 up to grade 7 students. As part of improving students’ lesson in computer science and information technology (IT), there are now more computers in the IT room than before. Currently, the number of students to the number of desk top computers ratio has reached 2:1. This has significantly improved the students’ opportunity to interact more with their computers and IT lessons.

The school library was also provided with books (in several hundreds) donated from other SOS Schools, namely, the SOS School Harar and the SOS School Awassa. Our students have now more opportunity for reading. Besides, the science laboratory has been under ongoing set-up and preparation after the arrival of laboratory chemicals, materials and equipments in the beginning of the year.

In the 2001 E.C (4th quarter of 2008) academic year, a nicely decorated and furnished Music and Art Room has been set up. A brand new TV with a DVD/CD player has also been purchased for it. The room is now being used for music lessons of grade one up to grade six students.

In relation with human resource capacity building in terms of basic computer skills, a ten-day-one-hour-long computer skill training was organised for more than 10 SOS School and Nursery School staff. On the other hand, one month long intensive training was organised for the head teacher in SOS School Gode in collaboration with SOS School Harar. On top of this, three more teachers were employed in the 2001E.C. academic year (4th quarter of 2008). A new school principal with Masters Degree qualification has also been employed in 1st quarter of 2008. Now, the total number of permanent and temporary contract staff in SOS School and Nursery School are 17 and 5, respectively.

As part of a good public, government and NGO relation and partnership, the school had arranged visits for the President of the Somali Regional Government (2nd quarter of 2008), WFP Sub-office representative (2nd quarter of 2008), and other higher official for the Somali Regional Government (4th quarter of 2008) and Gode Woreda Education Bureau. In addition, the school principal together with six competition winning students had taken part in a long walk organised by WFP Sub-office in Gode under the theme: Walk the World, End Hunger. During the event, our students have presented their art works to the participants of the walk.

Finally, the most pressing challenges of the SOS School and Nursery School Gode evolve around staff retention, staff qualification, communication, shortage of student text books and transportation for students to and from the school

SOS Nursery School, Harar

Different programmes that enhanced the physical, social, cognitive, emotional, and aesthetic development of the children has been run in the nursery school. Even though the nursery school is now operating in a temporary place, which is not originally built for nursery school purpose, we have devotedly worked to achieving our goals without being obstructed by the limitations of the building. Within the provision of the constrained space for outdoor activities, we have managed to organise such events to the extent it was possible. In spite of the constrained class rooms and compound, parents are still starved to getting a place for their children in our nursery school. Accordingly, we are operating at full capacity. Following the directives of the regional education bureau, the final year nursery schools were put on a full day programme that prepared them for the demands of grade one education. On top of the scheduled in-class and in-school programme, the nursery school has organised different educational trips to enhance the life skills of its kids. As such, the children have visited such places like Hospitals and Dire Dawa Air port. 

One of the most colorful events of the nursery school was the graduation of the children. After attending and successfully completing the three year early childhood education programme, 75 children have graduated. All these children have been given a place in the SOS Primary School. Parents, government officials and invited guests attended the graduation programme. Children with exemplary performance and special talents were given prizes. As usual, the graduation as well as major events of the nursery school was captured by the annual magazine. Parents and some business organisations working in the locality sponsored the printing of the magazine. The children and staff alike are looking very much forward to transferring to the new building in the year to come.

SOS Primary and Secondary School, Harar

The SOS School Harar, which opened in 1979, started the New Year with adequate preparation for an even better success for its students and the school at large. Various trainings that were believed to enhance the effectiveness of the teachers in their duties have been given by people both from within and without. This good start has been sustained throughout the year with the unfailing support of the management team of the school. School parents were also involved in the education of their children more this year than ever. The concerted efforts of these parties have tremendously impacted the performance of the students both in academic and behavioral terms. Accordingly, while all students who wrote the National Examination at tenth and twelfth grades level passed with gratifying results, the overall promotion rate of the school has improved by 5 per cent. On top of their involvement directly in the education of their children, parents were also involved in raising fund for the construction of lunch shades for students, in making in-kind donations to the teachers’ canteen in the school, and as liaison for the school in relationship with different government offices in the region.

Our school is engaged in a fruitful partnership with different offices and organisation that function in the region. Because of the strengthened relationship with the regional education bureau, the bureau has donated different educational materials to our nursery school. It has also given financial support to two of our teachers to improve their educational profile in the summer. The school is still in a lucrative partnership with Haromaya University. Training n identified needs, classrooms supervision, and technical advice are some of the benefits reaped from this partnership.

The conclusion of the academic year was celebrated in the presence of school parents, students, Higher Officials from the National Office of SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia, heads of different regional bureaus, and invited guests. Different programmes that added value as well as entertainment to the occasion were staged. As usual, one of the components of this occasion was the graduation of senior high school students. Ato Zenebe Tesfaye, the National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia, presented the graduates with their diploma and a medallion. The medallion was given for the first time and parents and students alike liked it. This day was also marked with the school’s gesture to recognise individuals and organisation that contributed for its betterment.  Accordingly, Haromaya University, Harar Berwery, Harar City Administration & Seven parents were given recognition for their contribution in the school activities.

The curricular programme of the school is strongly supported by other programmes like the co-curricular programme. Students are actively participating in the clubs and societies of their choices. Students themselves are organising and leading the functions of the clubs. The kind of changes that the children are undergoing as a result of participating in co-curricular activities, as revealed by the presentations made, are good witnesses about how much the children are benefiting from these programmes. The SOS School Harar has also been named as the winner of the National Question and Answer Competition made among all the Secondary Schools in Ethiopia. The achievement has motivated the school community to maintain this position in upcoming competitions and to work for a better score in other aspects too.

SOS Nursery School, Jimma

During the reporting period, the nursery school in Jimma had 176 students among them 15 were scholarship students. The nursery school fully serves children coming from the community as there is no children’s village in the area. For different reasons, 14 students left the nursery school during the year due to reasons related to family moving to other towns and other reasons.

During the year, the nursery school provided slippers, aprons, pants, shoes, socks for the 14 scholarship students coming from economically disadvantaged members of the community. Besides, tuition fees were paid and educational materials purchased for students belonging to the 4-5 and 5-6 age group.

The nursery school arranged to have a counseling programme with parents of slow learning students in the pre-school (nursery class 3). The educator had a continuous discussion to help the children improve in their academics and weaknesses.

Children in the nursery school enjoyed the celebration of Christmas, Easter and Id holidays. Children enjoyed the sweets and drinks specially served on these days. They also had a briefing about the different religious holidays by their educators.

The children and their parents appreciate the methods of teaching adopted by the nursery school some time ago now. The jolly phonics system to teach children English language has proved to be very successful and enjoyable to specially learn read and write English. Parents help their children at home with phonics and at the nursery school educators use actions and stories to help student easily learn the language.

On the occasion of the graduation of 49 children from the nursery school, parents’ day was also celebrated. Among the graduates, 8 are scholarship students. Children prepared plays, game and other shows to entertain parents and guest invited on the occasion.

SOS Nursery School Makalle

The SOS Nursery School Makalle has been providing quality early childhood education to 137 children (capacity of 200) both from SOS Children’s Village Makalle and the neighborhood community. The education given to them has been designed in such a way that it enhances the physical, social, emotional, cognitive and aesthetic development of the child. As the main approached followed in doing this was “Learning/educating through play”, the children have been given various in-door and out-door playing opportunities. On top of this, they were also given different opportunities that enhanced their understanding of different social skills, realities and values. The most important of these include: Christmas celebration, Birthday celebration, Easter Celebration and the likes. They have also been taken to different production and recreation sites.

Another most significant event that took place in the Nursery school was the graduation of nursery class 3 children. These children graduated upon the successful completion of the three years early childhood education and they are now placed in the SOS Primary School. The day was blessed by the presence of officials from different government offices, parents, SOS family and the children themselves. Various activities that gave life to the programme have been staged by the children themselves. 

The summer in-service training given to our nursery schools has positively impacted the quality of the service. As a result, the popularity of the nursery school among the population of Makalle is highly raised. People are now seeking for placement more this year than ever.

 

SOS Primary and Secondary School, Makalle

The beautiful facility of the SOS Primary and Secondary School Makalle, which opened in 1998, has served a total of 869 students in 2008. These students had a wonderful academic experience that was facilitated by a team of 43 highly conversant and committed teachers.

A number of curricular as well as co-curricular programme have been run by the leadership of the students, teachers and other administrative staff. Prominent among the curricular programmes were the banner contest, the question and answer competition, and the tutorial programme. A lot of competition and derive to maintain a wining position is observed in the case of the first two programmes. The tutorial programme has also helped in improving the academic as well as the social skills of our children. It was observed that there was a great improvement in the attitude of both the teachers and the students towards the tutorial programme. It was interesting to see both parties rushing to the tutorial classes when the time turns up.  High performing students were also not forgotten. They are assisted to release their potentials through a programme called “Acceleration programme” wherein they are either helped to prepare themselves for IGCSE entrance exam or they are mentored through relatively tougher materials that help develop their potentials. The whole set of curricular programme taking place in the school is reinforced by co-curricular activities that take place once in a week. About 15 active clubs and societies have been run by the students themselves with the support the teachers. The presentations made by these clubs and societies both educative and entertaining. Different sport competitions were also conducted among staff, students and with other schools. It was highly entertaining to see teachers playing match with their students. These programmes have truly proved to have enhanced both the talents and moral of the students.

Though most of the programmes, feast and festivities are celebrated warmly in the school, none was as warm as the graduation the senior highs. The ceremony was skillfully crafted and well managed that it was met with great appreciations by invited guests. Sandwiched among the components of the programme were various entertaining dances, plays and music of both cultural and modern tunes. The ceremony was blessed by the presence of government officials, parents of graduating classes, SOS community and other invited guests.     

It is also gratifying to have ones finger prints in the lives of many who couldn’t otherwise get the chance to education. Our school has given access to quality education to 97 needy students through its scholarship programme at the SOS School. These children are now attending their education happily ever since. The school has also reached to a great many other deprived children through its school support programme wherein impoverished schools have been assisted in their provision of quality education to the needy.

 

Gebre attended a local primary and the SOS Secondary School in Makalle until the SOS Primary and the SOS Secondary School Makalle was opened in 1996. The first school had than one hundred children per class and in Gebre's own words "I hardly learnt anything". He went on to join the newly opened SOS School, located just opposite the village. "I guess that this was my defining moment," he says. "Up to class six I was in the bottom 10 of my class and I had never realized my potential." After two years Gebre passed the entrance exams to the SOS International College.