Primary School Leaving Certification

     When I finished eighth grade, my school put together a graduation ceremony for us. We had the graduation itself in a packed gym, then sipped punch, ate cake, and took pictures in the courtyard before they sent us home for the year. 

Why does middle school have to be a life stage?

      It was a ridiculous considering we didn't have a whole lot of choice on whether we continued school or not--if we passed, we moved along. I don't know if the school did all the graduation hoopla to celebrate us or arm our families with scores of horribly embarrassing pictures of very proud, very ugly thirteen year olds, but regardless, it happened. And they led us to believe it was a big deal. Though it wasn't. At all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
     And then there are my friends back in Lumbadzi who just finished eighth grade. With no fanfare. And it is the biggest deal.

     In Malawi, like much of the rest of the world, education still isn't a given like it is here for most in America. Things have improved, but not every child is served. Even those who are aren't served well or, for many, very long. Students may not make it to class for various reasons (if there is even class nearby to get to). They may be needed at home to help with the work, they may be encouraged to stay home to get married or start a family, they may not be able to afford supplies, or the weather may prevent them from accessing the school. 

      If you do make it all the way to Standard 8 in Malawi, at the end of the year you take a big exam covering English, Chichewa, math, social science, science, religious education, expressive arts, and maybe another subject or two. As far as I understand, you need to pass each subject to pass the exam and get your primary school certificate. If you pass, you get your certificate and may get a bid to continue your education at a secondary school. If you don't, you retake Standard 8 and try again next year. 

Despite all the things pressuring them to find value in something other than education, praise God above that at least five of the nine eighth graders at Mtendere passed Malawi's Primary School Leaving Certificate Exam!  

     (I navigated a Malawian website to hunt for the results and because I knew the schools and districts of six of the students, I was able to find out that much. I didn't see one name I hoped to since I knew her school, but I lacked the information I needed to look up the results of the three remaining students. I pray that the other boys passed too, but I don't know at this point.)

     Congratulations to Lekeleni, Maria, Saulos, Oswin, and Levison! I had the privilege to work with each of them during study hall and have no doubt they would have succeeded without me making them read, write, do math, or some other exercise with me each night. They are very talented young people, and I'm so proud of them and their hard work!

 

     The new school year has started back in Malawi too, and I'm excited for the new things my beloved friends will be learning. Please pray that their teachers honor their commitments to teach to the best of their ability as well as that the children are blessed by and a blessing with the education they receive. Thank you, friends, for continuing to love and care about these precious kids.