A Day at School

Today was our first school day and we traveled a few miles outside of Accra to an urban area that was very poor.  The school was private and serves children in poverty who pay a about a Cedi a day (50 cents) to attend.  They get lunch for that price.  The students and staff were impressive and all the kids wanted to touch us.  Bonee is a teacher from PA who was mobbed by the kids and I was able to capture the moment.  One photo is of a boy collecting the school fees for the day.  The kids pay per day because it is easier for the poor to do it that way. If they have to save up for a month's fees something will come up and they probably won't have the money.  But it was so moving to hear how the kids get cards for free days in case they can't pay, and families with more will give their cards to families with less.  The boy standing up is the class prefect who was assigned the job of asking us a question.  The prefect is a good student who helps enforce the rules of the classroom.  The students at this school are getting in to Ghana's top secondary schools and teachers are using teaching methods that are different from what most public schools do- rote learning.  Another difference is this school doesn't cane students like most public schools do here. 

Christianity is very evident in the cultural landscape.  Most bumper stickers are faith related - "Trust Jesus". Or ""Hope in God.". There is Christian worship music playing every morning at breakfast because that is how Ghanaians like to start their day.  Many businesses have Biblical names.  There is a photo of the Adam and Eve Lesson that was on the board today at school.