Is a new door opening? Could be exciting!

Talking with a friend, John Sisson, at Christmas, he mentioned that a fellow teacher from his days at Hebron School in India was going to visit private schools in Sierra Leone. Would I be interested in talking to him? Sure I would. So shortly before his flight, David Longfield phoned me to say that he was part of a research programme from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and was travelling with James Tooley, Professor of Education Policy, and renowned for his work on low-cost private education in developing countries. They were spending two weeks looking at some 250 schools in Sierra Leone, aided by 45 researchers from Sierra Leone. I gave him Samuel's mobile number and this week he phoned with a report of his visit to New Era School and conversation with its Head Teacher, Alpha Kargbo. Alpha has since told me "He asked a lot of questions!"

Alpha had told David that it was difficult to get government support. The government only supported three of the ten teachers at the school and were not taking new people on. Alpha believed that this was good because "if it becomes a government school, the teachers are very relaxed. If they come late and go early, they still get paid. They are not accountable to the people they are working for."   Also, it was alleged, it would need a bribe of Le500,000 (£73.50) to get a teacher on the government payroll. That is a lot of money in Sierra Leone.

David was interested that the two schools together educate more girls than boys. This goes against historical trends. There are 366 girls in the schools and only 258 boys.

Newcastle University set up in 2002 the E.G. West Centre based in the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences.   Professor Tooley is the Director and following his research into low-cost private education in India, Africa and China, has dedicated himself to creating and improving working models of innovative practice that will improve educational opportunities for the poor. He is is Co-Founder and Chairman of Omega Schools and they have schools in the poor coastal fishing communities in Sierra Leone which are sustainable with families paying Le2000 per pupil a day. This is 30p and covers uniform, books, lunch and teaching. This opens up a new vista for us to explore.
I have been invited to keep in touch with David.

James Tooley discusses his book "The Beautiful Tree" on ABC News Now (2009)