Painting my Model Classroom: A Success Story

6/16/13

As an education PCV, I’m guided by the education program framework, which stipulates that my work should focus in part on training teachers in incorporating more active learning methods into their lessons. To that end, we’re encouraged to establish model classrooms in our schools and train teachers on how the classroom itself can be used as a teaching tool. Halfway through the school year I succeeded in getting the key to a classroom, and considered that a victory in itself. However, while the room was structurally sound, it was in disrepair both in terms of furniture and paint, so I determined that if the classroom was going to be a model classroom, it needed a paint job and new desks to be worthy of the name.

The classroom after the walls had gotten a thorough scrub

Peace Corps Ethiopia recently started a mini-grant program, through which PCVs can receive grants of no more than 3,000 birr (roughly $160) by an expedited application and review process. Armed with this knowledge, I met with the school director and the cluster supervisor to determine the school’s interest in supporting my project. They were thrilled with the idea, and in fact pledged to provide me with new desks, paintbrushes, and talented students as their contribution.

Two months later the desks had been built and I had received approval and funding for my project. The implementation got off to a rocky start, with scores of students scrubbing the walls only to abandon the work after 20 minutes each, but with the help of a dedicated teacher, we succeeded in rounding up enough rotations of students to get the walls cleaned. After that the director found three eighth grade students who agreed to paint with me all week , and things went uphill from there. Those three came every day, twice a day, for four days until the work was finished. Not only did they come, but they were good sports when I insisted we do touch-ups on all the mistakes we’d made, and they continually chased away the crowds of students who would gather to watch and jeer at the foreigner. Working with them was the highlight of the experience by far.

My three dedicated painters

 We finished and got the desks moved into the room just in time for the end of the school year, so while I haven’t been able to use it yet, it’s primed and ready for me to hit the ground running next October. I plan to hold two weekly English clubs in it, and to model teach while the teacher observes at least once a week, demonstrating how to rearrange the desks to facilitate group work and other simple techniques for increasing participation. Getting the room put together and ready gave me a great sense of accomplishment to take with me through the summer months!

The finished product!