Before school
Mufaro, our eldest and only daughter, started singing the ‘I wanna go to school’ song at 4, her age-mates were now going too. She was supposed to be in the first level of Early Childhood Development program (ECD A), as most kids in Zimbabwe. Whoever started the early learning program, you are not my favorite cousin!
Reluctantly, we looked for a place for her. A good friend told us when one school would open for that, in our ignorance we would have missed the date and only looked for a place too late. We woke up early on the day, got our requirements and child, and waited in line with others. I smiled proudly as I observed Sisi (affectionate term for a girl) sweetly doing as she was asked during the entrance interview; she knew her shapes and colors so well. But I digress here, I don’t really get why these kids get such an interview, they are here to start school, hello! Why should being able to read be a pre-requisite? I would think getting a place would just be on a first-come-first-served basis.
Anyway, long story short, she didn’t get in. There was no communication from the school whatsoever. I only heard from my friend once they were busy with uniforms for theirs that selection was over. And the year was 2020! March, we were locked down and I thought, ‘Well, well! Who saved some money there?’ Because I had been opposed to formal school anyway at that age, I was happy to have her play at home. And boy, did she love it!
I started to introduce ‘school’ slowly. On the days that she didn’t want, I let her be. When she was feeling it, we did simple stuff- coloring, shapes, songs, the alphabet etc. Mostly we would follow lessons from her Adventurers class (a church club). Then we were in Bindura, a lovely, mining town about 100km from Harare that we enjoyed staying in from June, 2017. We moved back to Harare in November, 2020.
Starting school
When she turned 5, we searched for someone to help us with how homeschooling worked – it’s always easier when someone has gone before you, you can always ask. Fortunately for us, a friend couple we had been with in South Korea, had begun homeschooling. They guided us on how to do it. They advised us to visit Zimbabwe School Examinations Centre (ZIMSEC) offices in Mt. Pleasant, Harare, where the Government Correspondence school is located. Thus, our Zimbabwe homeschool experience began.
The Government Primary Correspondence School
We went there with our child in tow, had a chat with the vice principal and liked it. Initially, we thought they started with preschool, only to learn they do grade levels. So we put in our application, paid our fees in local currency and a small USD component fee. January 2022, teacher and pupil were raring to go! I bought books, pencils, crayons. I even made a uniform for her! The uniform was just to make things exciting for her, otherwise it wasn’t necessary.
The school’s curriculum is in form of workbooks, you get 2 weeks’ work. There were reading books about Janet and John (Mabel O’Donnell) that we could check out and return later, just like borrowing from a library. Add to the mix our dear faithful Sunrise readers, and our class had variety. After completing these fortnightly sets, I would come back to the school and exchange for the next one. They have teachers who check and mark, I was just a supervisor. And as a supervisor, I helped my student finish their work, logged in the dates we started and completed the different components, put in notes on her progress on a given form which accompanied the sets. Assessors would later visit and check for progress, discuss any concerns you might have and just see the pupil’s learning environment.
Our experiences in the classroom
Our lessons took more of a classroom approach- I only knew to teach as I was taught! My student would sit down excitedly and call me ‘ma’am or teacher, sometimes I was Mrs. Mbiriri, occasionally, mum too. I expected to get only 3 subjects: Math, English and Shona (our home language), what was Family and Heritage Studies?! There were outstanding workbooks which were to follow (Physical Education and something else which I have forgotten). Aaah thanks, but no thanks, that is too much for me to handle😒! I was drowning guys, what had I gotten myself into? Where I pictured my student doing their Math and coloring quietly, it was not so. She would switch off 15 min in. She wouldn’t get the concepts I was trying to teach her. What? I have university students who like my lectures, young lady.
Correspondence school to the rescue! They organized a convention at the end of January which saved both of us. I learnt a lot that morning. The first of which was never to say, ‘That’s wrong.’ Poor child, that is what she heard most of the time. I had to learn to use encouraging language such as, try again, you were close, good effort etc. I remember one time I gave her some sums to work on, and she got two of them wrong. When marking, I put big Xs, in pencil, luckily for her. The waterworks that followed confused me, and I told her, ‘Don’t cry, sweetie, you got most of them correct anyway!” Small comfort. I later realized that 6,8 and 9 really confused her. She could say 5 + 3 equals 8 verbally, but then go on to write 6!
Our schedule worked well because most of my work was virtual then. We used David’s office for our classes. By then, Tarangarirwa (we call him Tara) wanted to come along. We left the house with our bags packed; they loved the adventure of leaving our apartment and going to the ‘office’ with mum and dad. We resided on campus. Our day was short, in 2h we would have finished. We prayed, sang, read and colored. I focused more on Mufaro, for Tara it was all games. Five minutes in, he would be looking for his lunchbox🤣! That, after having had porridge a few minutes before. That would frustrate me, but what to do now, he was just 3!
Whereas before I was overwhelmed, I now had a new mountain to climb : PATIENCE! There was need for tons of patience, which I was short on. I would get angry and shout, and there would be tears. Why couldn’t she just read those simple words? Realising that if we continued like that we would burn out quickly, we resorted to prayer. I prayed by myself, and also asked her to pray for me before we started our classes. I am not there yet, but I am much better than I was. In all this, I am the one who has learnt more than my children. I have made mistakes, and I am still learning from them. More of this next time!
I love this ! I am definitely inspired to start this journey soon
Yes, yes tete! We would love to have more people to share notes and tips with
Another great article👏👏 This brings back lots of memories. One in particular is the challenge we posed on Mufaro to find her way to the classroom (Daddy’s office) from our apartment on campus. Those who are familiar with the University of Zimbabwe’s Harare main campus will appreciate how daunting it can be to find your way around. But she did it with so much ease and I was sooo proud of her.
Ooh that one almost gave me a heart attack! I was so afraid for her but she bravely did it, refusing to talk to strangers on the way.
I remember teaching Mufaro and I enjoyed it very much. But yes it is really requires patience
It would be interesting to hear of your experience Tana lool. Shami had some time with her as well
Wow I can imagine what you went through 🤣🤣
I don’t talk about it said the crow (Sounds much better in Shona and when Paul Matavire is singing it lool!)
Hi Chie, it surely requires patience and prayer so that you will not call it quits.
You are very right Shingi, I don’t want to give up because I lost patience. Will continue praying until I have overcome.
Beautiful article Chichi! Thank you!
Thank you my dearest Henri
What a great read maiguru! The bit on realizing you were headed for a burnout and resorting to prayer got me in all kinds of feels. What a powerful testimony and what a great witness you are… Looking froward to hearing a sermon from you one of these fine days.
It’s either you pray or you go mad! Lool
Awesome work. Am so inspired. Will definitely try that with Keyana.
Would enjoy having you on board sis. Keyana is a clever little one, you would have so many stories to tell lool.
Well done, I admire your tenacity and patience!
Thank you mkoma. This was necessary for my own growth as well, I didn’t know I had little patience until I started lool!
This was a great read! I am proud of the progress you guys are making. Keep it up!
We really appreciate the support and warmth mainini!
You are doing well my sister. Thumbs up
Thank you my sister. We keep at it and learn as we go.
I enjoyed reading this am so proud of my favorite niece. I hope and she will have great memories of how great her mother is at multitasking. Keep posting more notes for us we are learning a lot.
Your niece is so full of character she makes it fun…sometimes lol! There are so many stories to tell, just hold on.
Thanks tete. I really do hope they will look back and appreciate all the effort taken in raising them. You give me strength to continue, thanks for the support.