SOS Schools in Guinea-Bissau

SOS Nursery School Bissau

The Nursery school began the 2007/2008 school year with one hundred and six children, 51 boys and 55 girls. Nine of them are children from the SOS Children's Village Bissau, of which 7 boys and 2 girls. 104 children finished the year and 2 dropped out.

Various technical and educational activities developed under this facility’s plan of activities contributed towards the proper functioning of this Nursery school during the year. Those activities relate fundamentally to educators’ empowerment, and, on the other hand, to children’s development and include: the recycling seminar on improving the Montessori technique provided to educators; the holding of study circles; regular methodology-oriented visits to classrooms; frequent meetings with children’s parents and guardians; educational exchanges with other similar institutions in Bissau, which allowed an easier accomplishment of programming contents, and also, the application of Child Individual Plans and the filling out of Child Development Plans; extra classes for children that reveal learning difficulties deserve mentioning throughout the school year.

A lecture was held as part of celebrations of the International Teachers’ Day and educators, parents and guardians took part; the event’s topic was “the Teacher’s Role in the Learning Process”. Cultural and recreational activities deemed as essential to children’s social development were organised during the 2007/08 school year. Our nursery school had a good participation in the child carnival parade organised by the NGO ASA (Association for Solidarity and Action) and two of our children also won the 3rd spot in the national song festival organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports during the African children’s week.

A visit carried out to the office of Plan International by Child Protection Clubs, annual sport events and a party thrown to celebrate the ending of the school year is also part of major activities undertaken throughout the year.

Two innovations should be mentioned if we want to make a comparison with the preceding school year (2006/2007): (a) the introduction of an initial diagnosis test to identify child strengths and weaknesses and (b) the performing of a quarterly evaluation test at all levels, as per the programme. The results were satisfactory and elicited appreciation from children’s parents and guardians.

Our overall assessment of the 2007-2008 school year is very positive because the programme was fully accomplished and there was a great deal of collaboration from children’s parents and guardians in the follow up of their children, both in terms of educational activities and extras curricular activities. Global success rate was 98%, 54 children went to primary school and 2 children failed due to an excessive number of non-attendance cases and will thus stay another year in Nursery school. The school year was closed on 19 June, in accordance with the school 2007/2008 calendar, with a luncheon offered to all children.

1st quarter activities started in September with curriculum revision works in a 8-day-long seminar held in nursery school premises and attended also by Directors and Educators from Gabú and Canchungo nursery schools.

The cholera epidemic that plagued the country forced classes to open only on 13 October. The total number of children enrolled was one hundred and fifteen, 53 boys and 62 girls, of whom 5 SOS children (4 boys and 1 girl), distributed according to age into 4 classrooms. Teaching hours were from 7.30 am to 12.00 am. One needs to mention that the rise seen in the number of enrolled children is due to the great demand for places in this teaching facility by children’s parents and guardians as a result of shortage of pre-school teaching facilities and, fundamentally, the good reputation enjoyed by SOS Schools and nursery schools. However, three drop out cases have already been registered due to migration of children’s parents.

As usual, a meeting was held with children’s parents and guardians, beginners in particular, before the start of classes to inform them on nursery school rules and regulations, including tasks and activities that require their involvement in the teaching-learning process.

The application of Child Individual Plans (CIP) and the filling out of a Child Development Plan (CDP) are progressing very positively with a notable collaboration from parents and guardians.

As for regular educational activities, we need to mention the holding of study cycles where curricular revision for the 2nd school term takes place; house visits and other visits; supervision visits and educational meetings, with the latter aimed at analysing positive aspects of our work and those aspects that require improving.

First-term tests took place on 8-12 December, followed by a meeting on 16 December for a presentation on children’s results and an assessment of 1st term performances with parents and guardians. Results were satisfactory due to the positive evolution registered, including educators’ own performance.

The 1st quarter ended on 17 December as per the school calendar and was marked by an early celebration of Christmas with many cultural activities being performed by children in front of parents and guardians.

SOS Secondary School Bissau

Opened in December 2001, twenty seven pupils out of the 409 pupils enrolled in the 2007/2008 school year dropped out, and 382 pupils sat exams at the end of the year. 297 i.e., 78%, were successful and 85 (22%) failed.  Various technical and educational activities included in the annual plan were held in 2007-2008 and we will describe them below.

Educational forum meetings that carried out a detailed analysis and consultation aiming at improving performance by SOS pupils attending the Polytechnic high school; meetings with parents and guardians to ensure the envisaged partnership; Technical Educational Council meetings, important moments for (fortnightly and daily) planning work, use of adequate methodologies and correction of eventual weaknesses. Classrooms visits during the year, among others, allowed an effective control on teachers’ performance (preparation of class plan and execution) and had a corresponding impact on the teaching-learning process. 

Furthermore, two special information and professional guidance sessions were organised in 2007/2008 as part of technical and educational activities. One of them targeted all personnel from SOS Education Department within existing projects in the capital and another one was held for parents and guardians of 9th grade pupils. Additional information and professional guidance sessions took place to the benefit of 9th grade pupils hence allowing this important and innovating activity in teaching facilities in the country to continue making its impact felt. Pupils were thus able to obtain indispensable information about their options and choice of technical courses taught in this teaching facility.

Many other recreational and socio-cultural activities were organised including Professions’ Journeys and the celebration of SOS Day on 23 June with the holding of a lecture at the Polytechnic high school centred on “Life and Work of ”.

As in other SOS Guinea-Bissau’s education projects, the 2008/2009 school year began slightly late on 13 October due to the cholera outbreak that hit the country. It should be mentioned that the official opening took place at the premises of this school and was presided over by the SOS National Director in the presence of staffers from the NO and SOS projects in Bissau, a representative from the Ministry of National Education, representatives from some invited private schools and parents and guardians. Local mass media (TV and radio stations, newspapers) covered the event.

Admission tests in August preceded the formal start of the school year. There was a great influx of candidates to the Polytechnic high school and 484 existing pupils were enrolled, 302 in the general course (149 girls– 49.3% and 153 girls – 50.7%) and 182 in technical courses (121 boys– 66.4 and 61 girls– 33.6%), distributed into 16 classrooms: 3 classes in each level from 7th to 10th grade, and 4 classes in 11th grade.

Activities included in the work programme produced for the 1st school term were successfully implemented. It is worthwhile to mention the holding of the National Seminar on Teachers’ Empowerment, an occasion that allowed the revision of already existing programmes, i.e., those from 7th to 10th grade as well as the preparation of the same documents for the 11th grade, and the preparation of the curriculum for 12th grade, still ongoing, the latter to be subsequently introduced in our high school. Likewise programme contents were reviewed during the mentioned seminar.

Five new teachers were recruited in 2008/2009 in accordance with the Plan of Installation to teach Portuguese, English, French, mathematics, introductory computing and computing (a more advanced technical course).

An educational Forum was organised on 17 December and some information meetings with parents and guardians also took place. Participation was massive and important in all these activities.

The head of Information and Professional Guidance prepared the Plan of Information and Professional Guidance Activities. He already organised a session on “How to organise study time” in this school term.

Regarding recreational, cultural and extra-school activities, daily assemblies have provided the occasion for the holding of knowledge contests as a primary stage in the preparation of youths to take part in competitions announced during the Youth National Forum. The setting up of Culture, Environment, UNICEF and other clubs presently under way is part of the above-mentioned activities. 

Youths’ professional integration deserves a special attention on our part and for that reason we made contacts with some local firms to enlist their support to provide internships to our 11th grade pupils. SOS and the said firms will implement all those actions under partnership agreements that will hopefully be entered soon.

Management is currently deeply involved in the launching of a Bibliographic Fund and the revision and updating of regulations for the Polytechnic high school, a document that will later be submitted for appraisal and approval by the National Office.

SOS Primary School Bissau

The SOS Primary School, which opened in September 1994, has over 350 pupils in six classes. There is also an SOS Nursery School for 100 children in four classes.  SOS Children works in partnership with Plan International, developing and running training courses for teachers at the Bafatá community nursery school in Bissau.

Update from 2008:

The 2007/2008 school year began with 418 enrolled pupils, 201 boys and 217 girls, 56 of them from Bissau SOS Children’s Village, 33 boys and 23 girls. Only 392 pupils were evaluated at the end of the year, with 323 (82%) successful performances and 69 (18%) failures and 26 dropouts for varied reasons. There was nonetheless a very significant recovery in the last school term as compared to the preceding two when the proportion of negative marks was very high. There has been a considerable increase in the number of pupils enrolled in this school year, as compared to 352 in 2006/2007. 

One of the main concerns of this primary school has been to stimulate the development of children’s cognitive, affective and social capacities with a view to sustaining the desired quality of teaching in our facility through the integrated implementation of a set of measures and the carrying out of technical and educational activities under the annual programme, which was almost fully met. The various information and educational meetings held with children’s parents and guardians; classroom supervision visits; the holding of educational forums; recycling courses/seminars meant to teaching personnel (Portuguese language in particular); the preparation of teaching materials;; the teaching of extra classes; study visits and observation of different telecommunication companies with pupils, etc., are the main educational aspects to be pointed out during the 2007/2008 school year.

Other educational sessions took place and involved our children’s parents and guardians. They were namely a colloquium on Communication and Evaluation System by a specialist from Camões Institute; a lecture on HIV/AIDS by the SOS Social Centre’s doctor; a dissertation by lawyers from the Women and Children’s Institute on Child Rights focusing on talibé children’s plight. Referring to the latter, we should point out dissemination activities organised by Child Protection Clubs where parents and guardians and the neighbouring community are invited to visit exhibitions of drawings and cultural evenings (poetry and songs) centred on child rights.  

Some extra curricular activities (recreational and cultural ones) were organised during the school year, more specifically celebrations of international journeys and sports events involving other community schools.    

Finally, we would like to single out the good performance of our accounting services regarding the collection of revenues that exceeded expectations and expenditures that were incurred within the foreseen budget parameters. 

The school year closed on 24 June in accordance with the school calendar. Parents and guardians, together with school teaching and administrative personnel, took part in the party for last year pupils.

The 1st quarter of the new school year started on 13 October like in other SOS schools. A solemn opening act was organised in the premises of the SOS Polytechnic high school and was attended by all pupils accompanied by their respective parents and guardians.

Initial enrolments reached the number of 434 pupils (212 boys and 222 girls), including 61 SOS children (34 boys and 27 girls). 416 pupils took tests at the end of this quarter and their results were satisfactory (343 successes versus 73 failures). There were 18 dropouts. 

Before the opening of classes teachers participated in a training seminar that is held every year. This year it coincided with works on curriculum revision and programme harmonisation, organised in September by the National Office’s department of education. This was followed by the preparation of schedules and an information meeting for children’s parents and guardians, whilst teaching personnel involved themselves in the structuring of the thematic and analytical plan, analysis and enrichment of programme contents, and the production of supporting texts for pupils.

Methodological visits to classes, a lecture on Child Protection Policy (recommendation issued from the National Seminar - CPP), the holding of the educational forum, teaching competitions between Child Protection Clubs and cultural exchanges with other schools also marked the 1st term of the present school year that ended on 17 December, date when the Christmas party occurred at the primary school.  

SOS Nursery School Canchungo

The SOS Nursery School Canchungo started with 113 children initially enrolled (52 boys and 61 girls), 27 of them being SOS children (14 boys and 13 girls), in the 2007/2008 school year. Activities only began on 9 October, a week after the date originally planned in the national calendar for SOS teaching facilities due to reasons related to the completion of construction works and the welcoming of children into the Village. The four nursery school’s classrooms have reached the full capacity of 100 children and even had to accept more enrolments bearing in mind that the few existing pre-school facilities in Canchungo are far away from SOS Village’s neighbouring community. The Nursery school operated with a director and 4 educators that committed themselves deeply to children’s development, particularly to those that only spoke their own mother tongue when they first arrived at the Village. 104 children completed the school year, 9 dropped out and 28 were transferred to the SOS Primary School.

The school year elapsed in perfect normality and various educational activities both from a technical and educational standpoint and in the social sphere were carried out. This provided children with an enabling environment for the development of their skills whilst at the same time allowing teachers an adequate preparation for farther teaching cycles. Educational forum meetings involving participation by parents and guardians, the preparation of child development plans and the objective and realistic implementation of individual child plans were very important factors behind the good result achieved at the end of the school year and also in the great interaction with parents and guardians of external children, who have greatly collaborated in the teaching-learning process. Extra classes to children facing learning problems were also crucial in the whole process.

The main objectives of the annual plan of activities were almost fully met notwithstanding the fact that this is the first year of operation. This was possible thanks to the professionalism of a work team that is still going through a consolidation phase but whose performance and dedication led to a very positive appraisal from parents and guardians, which represents a significant step towards the establishment of trusting relations with the local community.

Methodological visits paid to activity rooms, coordination meetings and regular study circles during the school year enabled educators to perform their duties smoothly and this has reflected notably on children’s behaviour and assimilation of knowledge.

Extracurricular activities also deemed as essential to children’s socio-cultural development were also carried out, e.g., contests between Child Protection Clubs; exchange games with other local nursery schools; visits to locations and works that raise children’s curiosity (Baluarte hotel in Cacheu, community radio stations, Bachil metallic bridge, etc.) among others.

Celebrations of international dates and journeys and popular parties were organised under a very animated cultural and sporting environment, always involving community participation. 

The closing ceremony of the 2007/2008 school year took place on 20 June 2008 in accordance with the annual calendar. Twenty-eight nursery school children then graduated in the presence of local education entities, parents and guardians, and elements from the neighbouring community. The audience praised vehemently this first-time and innovating achievement by our Nursery school, an event that was also broadcast by the mass media.

Preparations for the 2008/2009 school year started in September with participation of all Nursery school staff (director and educators) in a seminar organised in Bissau by the NO education department and attended by all teaching personnel from the various SOS facilities. Curriculum revision and the formulation of major objectives based on the organisation’s education policy were presented in the meeting as central themes towards ensuring a quality education and adequate training to children and youths that attend SOS nursery schools and schools.

The one hundred and twelve children (58 boys and 54 girls) enrolled to fill up the existing four classrooms began their activities in the 1st term of the new school year on 13 October, at the same time as other SOS teaching facilities in a formal act that occurred in the the SOS Primary School compound of this Village. The Village director presided over the ceremony in the massive presence of parents and guardians, VESOS staff, mothers and family assistants, teachers and educators.

A number of activities programmed for the current school year were implemented in the school term that ended on 17 December. It is worthwhile to single out the information meeting held with parents and guardians on the nursery school operating regime, the filling out of PDC and the consequent application of PIC, and some other routinely tasks. Regular tests were held and produced positive results regarding both children and educators and a peers meeting has already been scheduled for the beginning of next term.

Finally, the Nursery school management offered a Christmas luncheon to our children and some children from the neighbouring community were invited.

SOS Primary School Canchungo

This school began the 2007/2008 school year with one hundred and twenty four pupils, of which 26 from the SOS Village (7 boys and 19 girls) and 98 external pupils, 53 boys and 45 girls. 113 pupils took tests at the end of year, 95 were successful, and 18 failed and 11 dropped out. Overall it was a positive result because objectives were achieved thanks to actions we implemented and that contributed greatly to an improvement in the educational quality and pupils’ overall performance. Extra classes provided by Village management were of vital importance to assist those children that experienced more learning difficulties owing to the fact that it was their first time in school despite their somewhat advance age.

Bearing in mind that this was the first year of operation only four of the existing classrooms were utilised and 3rd grade was the top grade being taught, involving almost only external children. Five teachers, including physical education, ensured the proper functioning of the Village, working wit great dedication and professionalism and participating actively in the children’s teaching-learning process.

Various technical and educational activities were carried out in 2007/2008 with a view to improving and implementing work methodologies and tools for the development of children’s capacities. In this context, we may point out to regular methodological visits made to classrooms; study circles aimed at providing needed technical educational assistance to teachers; coordination meetings to assess compliance with plans and other issues pertaining to the school’s operation; the application of the Individual Education Plan and, finally, educational forums where parents and guardians always participated massively and actively in discussions on each case presented.

Some very important extra curricular activities of social, recreational, cultural and sporting nature were carried out during the year. It is worth mentioning observation and study visits made to various locations, sports meetings with other local schools, poem and song contests between Child Protection Clubs in the presence of parents and guardians besides the usual celebrations of major international dates.

The 2007/2008 school year was closed in June 2008 in accordance with the school calendar set for SOS schools. Children’s parents and guardians took part in the end-of- year party in a harmonious companionship with SOS children, mothers and family assistants and the neighbouring community.

Preparations for the 2008/2009 school year started in September with the participation of teachers in curriculum-revision works done during a seminar held in Bissau. Four additional teachers (two in a part time regime to teach computing and foreign languages – English and French and two on a full time basis to teach two additional classes. The year opened officially on 13 October for 187 enrolled pupils, 35 of which are SOS children, thus filling up the school’s capacity. All classes are operating and 4th grade is now finally being taught.

There is an increasing demand for places in our teaching facility by community members that wish to provide a proper education to their children, a fact that demonstrates the success and good reputation enjoyed by this project associated to SOS Children’s Village among the local community.

Two information meetings were already held during the first school term, which ended on 17 December, with parents and guardians. All activities under the quarterly programming were implemented. Methodological visits were made to classes and a special attention was paid to newly recruited teachers. Teachers are appropriately applying the main guiding tools in order to ensure a quality education to pupils that attend this teaching facility.

The outcomes at the end of this school term may be considered as highly positive and the whole team’s performance deemed as very efficient. The school offered a luncheon to its pupils on Christmas in an event to which parents and guardians also gave their contribution.    

SOS Nursery School Gabu

The SOS Nursery School works with nursery school teachers in the local community to share information and skils relating to child education.  The SOS Nursery School Gabu started 2007/2008 on 9 October 2008 with one hundred and two enrolled children (53 boys and 49 girls), of which 9 are SOS children (3 boys and 6 girls). The director and 3 educators ensured the operation of the existing 4 classrooms until mid December when a new educator was recruited and took charge of one the classes thus freeing the director for other management tasks. For children dropped out and 48 out of the 98 that were successful were transferred to primary school.

Objectives and programmes contents were fully met. Children demonstrated a great knowledge-assimilation capacity, and collaboration from parents and guardians was a determinant factor behind the final result produced. Other major factors were the educational forum meetings involving participation of parents and guardians, the filling out of child development plans (PDCs) and the proper application of individual child plans (PIDs)

A sensitisation campaign targeted relatives of external children to explain to them the importance and the role that relatives play on their children’s teaching-learning process. This had a positive impact on our work taking into account that around 80% of parents and guardians met our expectations, and was followed by regular information meetings.

Methodological visits to classes, coordination meetings and study circles regularly held in the course of 2007/2008, working sessions on the Montessori technique and practical life, the application of individual educators’ plans and individual meetings with them, and educational exchanges with public and private nursery schools in the town enabled educators to produce a quality performance in their educational activities, with beneficial effects on the quality of education provided to children that attend this facility.

Other extracurricular activities (recreational, cultural and sporting ones) were also organised and enjoyed an active participation of parents and guardians, SOS mothers and family assistants.

2007/2008 ended in June 2008 as per the annual calendar. The 48 last-year nursery school children were then graduated under a festive atmosphere.

2008/2009 school year’s activities started in September 2008. The nursery school team (director and educators) attended an empowerment seminar organised in Bissau by NO education department. Curriculum revision and the formulation of main objectives based on SOS KDI education policy were the central themes of the said meeting having as ultimate goal a quality teaching and an adequate training to children and youths attending SOS nursery schools and schools.

Classes began on 13 October as in all other SOS nursery schools and school, with 97 enrolled children (48 boys and 49 girls), including 7 from the SOS Children's Village (5 boys and 2 girls).

Activities programmed for the first term of the year (October-December) were implemented namely: regular meetings with parents and guardians to inform them about nursery school rules and regulations; preparation of some teaching materials; improvement of Montessori method; study circles. Still in this field, individual meetings with all SOS mothers took place to fill out child development plans and implement the resulting child individual plan, as well as the way mothers should intervene in the development of children’s skills.

The direct involvement of SOS mothers whose children attend the nursery school in their learning process has been effective. Every Wednesday educators visit family houses to assist in some occasional aspects they deem as necessary. Mothers’ and children’s joint participation in cultural rehearsals, nursery school surroundings’ cleaning, class exchanges and in child literature classes were also part of activities carried out during the school term that has just ended.

We closed the term with very satisfactory results according to regular evaluations. Educators were also subject to evaluation and their overall performance was positive.

SOS Primary School Gabu

The SOS Primary School, which opened in 2000, has about 170 pupils in five classes.  SOS Primary School Gabú enrolled 352 pupils for the 2007/2008 school years, of which 100 come from SOS Village (50 boys and 50 girls) and 252 external kids (134 boys and 118 girls). There were 6 dropouts among external pupils and thus 346 pupils were assessed at the end of the year, resulting in 321 approvals (92%) against 25 failures (8%) only. This was a very satisfactory outcome and a result of the determination of the whole teaching staff that works in this project associated to VESOS to ensure quality education to our pupils. Those that demonstrated some learning problems were taught extra classes in accordance with the respective individual education plan.

Various technical and educational activities were carried out during the school year focusing, on the one hand, on improving and applying work methodologies and tools and, on the other, on the development of children’s abilities and we quote: an appraisal and dosing of thematic and analytical plans and teaching methodology; regular methodological visits to classrooms; study circles aiming at providing required educational technical support to teachers; coordination meetings to analyse execution of plans and issues pertaining to school operations; educational forums with a massive and very active participation parents ad guardians in discussions of cases focusing on behaviour, attendance and specific needs of each pupil in terms of knowledge assimilation and school performance. Observation and study visits were equally made to various locations in Gabú.

The different Child Protection Clubs took part in various recreational, cultural and sporting activities organised by local entities and involving also pupils from our institution and Gabu town at large with a view to sensitising local communities on the issue of child protection from abuse. A cultural week was held to celebrate SOS Day and other schools and youth associations were also invited to participate in the event.

The “Genius in Action” competition to discover new talents remains a major practice in this school, among children from the SOS Children's Villages in particular. Finally top pupils, including external ones, took part in the first SOS holiday camp organised during a week in Gabú.

Three hundred and eighty five children enrolled for the 2008/2009 school year, divided into 12 classes from 1st to 7th grade operating in two shifts. An empowerment seminar and a nationwide curriculum revision preceded the start of the year.

The first school term of the year started on 13 October under perfectly normal conditions since all programming contents were met and results obtained by pupils in regular tests hint at a very promising end for the school year. Some usual technical and educational activities were held, more specifically study circles, information meetings with parents and guardians and complementary work on curriculum review that are still under way. Activities for the foreseeable future foresee a educational forum meeting and a peers meeting to be held in the premises of this primary school. Teachers are properly applying the main guiding tools with a view to ensuring a quality education to our pupils.

The 1st school term ended on 17 December 2008, an occasion that was marked by an early celebration of Christmas, with the participation of parents and guardians and children from the neighbouring community.