Happy International Literacy Day - Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces. By ambassador Sofonie Dala

 Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces

Let's remember some of the most touching moments of Africa Educates Her Campaign Angola

Rapidly changing global context took a new meaning over the past years, hampering the progress of global literary efforts. In the aftermath of the pandemic, nearly 24 million learners might never return to formal education, out of which, 11 million are projected to be girls and young women. 

To ensure no one is left behind, we need to enrich and transform the existing learning spaces through an integrated approach and enable literacy learning in the perspective of lifelong learning.

This year’s International Literacy Day will be celebrated worldwide under the theme, Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces and will be an opportunity to rethink the fundamental importance of literacy learning spaces to build resilience and ensure quality, equitable, and inclusive education for all.

School closures and driven disruptions caused by the pandemic have likely learning losses and drop-outs. This is especially true for vulnerable populations.

Sofonie Dala has a big passion for women and girls education in Africa. She wants to ensure all girls have access to a quality and safe education by dismantling the barriers imposed by Covid-19, poverty, teen-pregnancy, child marriage, discrimination, racism and gender inequality. 

"Still left behind: Inclusive education for disabled and illiterate girls"

 https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/05/wow-we-are-celebrating-successful.html

The successful completion of Girls Back to School after Lockdowns. ''Campaign with Sofonie Dala'' - 2020

The end of one campaign is not the end of the movement, thanks to all spectators, children, students and all who believes and supports our project.

Entry covid-19 song from Vanessa

Report of the campaign  

Since August  2020, we have been running the great campaigns to bring awareness around issues that hinder girls and women from accessing education.

The main objective of ''Girls Back to School After Lockdown Campaign'' is to certify that there is no weak compliance to COVID-19 measures in schools and also to help us understand why children and youth, and especially parents and families, may experience anxiety and concern (as schools reopen)".

Our campaign came to an end, collecting 33 video interviews launched between October - November with a series of 27 internet broadcast webisodes. Over 30 Angolan students from primary school to higher education were interviewed, participants are aged between 5 to 23 years old. The language we have been working for the campaign is Portuguese. 

Moreover, we recorded three Covid-19 music video, two Covid-19 poems and invited one primary school teacher to give the last interview. The study show that the COVID-19 pandemic will have long-term effects on students and will impact their education, their mental health and social and emotional well-being. It also show that students and teachers are aware - and 50% of them are afraid - of the virus. 

Students’ experiences of the lockdown period have been very varied. For some, it have been a safe and enjoyable time. For others, it have been challenging or traumatic.

Overall, respondents said the pandemic has already affected their academic performance. Here are some of the main figures:

75% of students said school didn't distribute any bio-safety material to them and the preventive measures against Covid-19 are not being followed. 

65% of students worry they will repeat the grade as a result of COVID-19.

30% of students said they forgot almost everything they studied before school closures.

10% of students said they did not go back to school due to financial inability to pay.

Only 25% of students said they are happy with the conditions created by school in order to prevent them from the Covid-19 pandemic and their schools have been distributing hand sanitizers for them.

Covid-19 poem from Meury

Covid-19 school closures around the world have hit girls the hardest, affecting their education, their rights and their future. In this campaign, we are shining the spotlight on the unique challenges facing girls during the coronavirus pandemic.

Our today's guest is teacher Inacio. He will share with us his experiences during covid-19 pandemic.

Interview with teacher Inacio

Hello! I am professor Inacio Dala. I am a primary school teacher in Angola.

The corona came to end the dream of many Angolans. Corona is a disease that came to prevent any citizen here, and I'm sad because I lost my job.

Since April to the current month, I am not working because the grade I teach is stopped, no one is studying, that is, students from the 5th grade downwards are not studying. Schools are only entitled to assist students from 6th grade upwards. This should not be like this, and it is very sad indeed.

We are ready to teach and guide our students but unfortunately things are not happening as they should. I have been visiting the school constantly on the scheduled days, and each time I find normal conditions that have been very valuable to students. For example, we have buckets of water to wash our hands, we have sanitizer products, we also have a thermometer to check students' temperature.

Did the school distribute any biosafety material to students?

No, in order for school to distribute, firstly the government had to supply the school with these equipment. We received nothing from the government. Our school is state owned. Meaning the school's safety level is low, it is weak.

Can you tell us what are the Covid-19 prevention measures that school has created to ensure the safety of students inside the schools?

We have a general rule that the government orders all institutions to follow. Before entering the classroom, each student must wash their hands with water and soap, the desks inside the classroom are already organized 1 meter apart from each other.

Could you tell us how do you feel in this new phase of post covid-19 education? How is the dynamic of schools in this period?

I'm not happy. Sadness hurts me because it is a disease that is killing lives worldwide. Although the level of death in Angola is not as high as we usually see in the European countries, but it is really very sad.

On the other hand, despite the fact that some students are studying, it is still a detriment to these same students who are studying, because today students study in phases, one week they are at school and the other week they stay at home.

Even the fact of staying at home is already a brainstorming for the students. Since the education in Angola is grotesque and weak, this new beginning shouldn't be like this anymore, holidays after holidays, when it is to study we must really study. But unfortunately, the disease forces us to go as far as we cannot.

After this long interview, professor Inacio told us that he is a gospel singer and decided to sing us a COVID-19 song in an Angolan traditional language "kimbundu". 

Brief considerations

In sum, from the Africa educates her campaign launched in August to the Girls back to school campaign ended in November, more than 60 students including two teachers were interviewed. Educators and students have all expressed concerns about the safety of schools and lack of details as class begin. "It's important to recognize and honor girl's knowledge and insights in their thinking right now."

Most students said they are afraid of the virus but want to return to class and have missed various elements of school, especially seeing friends. A lot of the them we talked to were really aware of the pandemic and of what you need to do to stay safe, and they were worried about other people not following the rules. 

Furthermore, the pandemic has deepened the inequalities between students. Preschool and primary school children have been excluded from quality education in Angola. Many children received no instruction, feedback, or interaction with their teachers. “Children are not taught during this period”. Schools in Angola reopened in early October, the Angolan government postponed the resumption of lessons in primary education (1st to 5th grade), the largest chunk of the education system. The postponement in the Primary Education owed to the increase in Covid-19 positive cases in the country.

So far, Angola’s Covid-19 figures show 13,451 positive cases, 322 deaths, 6,444 recoveries and 6,682 active patients.

 Covid-19 poem in Portuguese- Rosalia

Since July 2020, we have been conducting daily interviews with girls and young ladies across Angola in order to make sure that all the students will return to school after lockdown. 

However, studies shows that After Covid-19, millions of girls may not return to the classroom. The educational consequences of coronavirus will last beyond the period of school closures, disproportionately affecting marginalized girls.

Meet our participants!

Interviews: The Complete Collection 

Our campaign came to an end, collecting over 30 video interviews.

The school doors reopened in Angola, measures like handwashing stations, physical distancing, mask wearing and temperature checks are being integrated into school life. Here’s a glimpse of what a return to school looks like for students in Angola. 

Please click the links below to watch all the webisodes. From 1 to 27

1. Webisode 27. The grand finale. Celebrating the completion of Girls back to school campaign: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-grand-finale-congratulations-we-are.html

2. Webisode 26. Interview with Rosalia: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/11/girls-back-to-school-after-lockdown_14.html

3. Webisode 25. Interview with primary school children- Joice, Laurindo and Braulio: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/11/back-to-school-after-lockdowns-campaign.html

4. Webisode 24. Interview with kids - Tina, Jenito and Ivanilson: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/11/back-to-school-after-lockdown-campaign_12.html

5. Webisode 23. Interview with kids - David and Lanete:  https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/11/back-to-school-after-lock-down-campaign.html

6. Webisode 22. Interview with Maria: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/11/girls-back-to-school-after-lockdown_10.html

7. Webisode 21. Interview with Dorothea: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/11/girls-back-to-school-after-lockdowns_9.html

8. Webisode 20. Interview with Francisco, Augusto and Paulo: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/11/back-to-school-after-lockdown-campaign_8.html

9. Webisode 19. Interview with Antonia - https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/11/girls-back-to-school-after-lockdowns_7.html

10. Webisode 18. Interview with Beatriz: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/11/girls-back-to-school-after-lockdown.html

11. Webisode 17. Interview with Janio: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/11/my-name-is-janio-i-am-angolan-i-am-7.html

12. Webisode 16. Interview with Chelsea: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/11/girls-back-to-school-after-lockdowns_4.html

13. Webisode 15. Interview with Francisco: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/11/girls-back-to-school-after-lockdowns_4.html

14. Webisode 14. Interview with Madalena: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/11/girls-back-to-school-after-lockdowns_2.html

15. Webisode 13. Interview with Augusta: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/11/girls-back-to-school-after-lockdowns.html

16. Webisode 12. Interview with Laura: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/10/girls-back-to-school-after-lockdowns_31.html

17. Webisode 11. Interview with Benita: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/10/girls-back-to-school-after-lockdowns_30.html

18. Webisode 10. Interview with Decania: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/10/girls-back-to-school-after-lockdowns_29.html

19. Webisode 9. Interview with Paulina: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/10/girls-back-to-school-after-lockdowns_28.html

20. Webisode 8. Interview with Martis: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/10/girls-back-to-school-after-lockdowns_27.html

21. Webisode 7. Interview with Celma: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/10/girls-back-to-school-after-lockdown.html

22. Webisode 6. Interview with Izequiel: https://she-leads.blogspot.com/2020/10/back-to-school-after-lockdowns-angola.html

23. Webisode 5. Interview with Meury: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/10/girls-back-to-school-after-lockdowns.html

24. Webisode 4. Interview with Vanessa: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/10/campaign-girls-back-to-school-after.html

25. Webisode 3. Interview with Cecilia: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/10/back-to-school-after-lockdown-campaign.html

26. Webisode 2. Interview with Julia: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/10/to-school-after-lockdown-campaign-dont.html

27. Webisode 1. The launch of '' Girls back to school after lockdown camapaign: https://she-leads.blogspot.com/2020/10/we-are-happy-to-announce-new-campaign.html

Celebrating the successful completion of Africa Educates Her Campaign - Angola: https://she-leads.blogspot.com/2020/10/congratulations-we-are-celebrating.html

Ladies and gentlemen, meet our singer Dorothea 

''Longing for you in this quarantine''

Many many thanks, we hope to see you soon!

Don't miss this opportunity to bring girls back to school. Join us!

Share your experiences learning / teaching during the school closures & the projects or initiatives you've launched to get girls back to school post # COVID19 in your local communities.

Visit my new channel to see all the activities: https://she-leads.blogspot.com/