Charleston Academy links with Botswana to boost education for all

Charleston Academy in Inverness has been chosen to develop international links with Botswana as part of a major new school twinning project to boost global education.

Connecting Classrooms is a UK government and British Council education initiative. Charleston Academy has been selected in recognition of its commitment to teaching students about global issues. Teachers and students are working with Lotsane Senior Secondary School in Botswana to learn how to become responsible global citizens and to develop skills to work in a global economy. Schools across the UK can benefit from a range of support offered by the scheme.

Chris O’Neill, Head Teacher at Charleston Academy said: “Our partnership with Lotsane Senior Secondary school in Botswana began in 2010 after Ms Mairi Sutherland (Chemistry teacher) suggested forming a link with her former colleagues in Botswana where she had worked for ten years. Charleston Academy first visited Botswana in 2010 and as part of the Connecting Classrooms initiative, the school decided to focus on the theme of disability. Pupils and staff at Charleston learnt that Oabona Mogale, a pupil at Lotsane, had recently had an operation to correct Scoliosis (curvature of the spine). However, that operation hadn’t been successful and Oabona was left with severe mobility issues. Working in partnership with staff and pupils from Botswana, Charleston Academy staff and pupils successfully raised enough money to buy Oabona an electric wheelchair, which they handed over on their visit that year. The success of this project has meant that Oabona has been able to go on to the University of Botswana where she is now studying Guidance and Counselling. In 2012, two teachers and four pupils from Botswana visited Charleston Academy, and we returned there in 2012 with thirty pupils.

“While we were there in 2010 we were taken aback by the sanitation conditions in the girls’ dormitory blocks. While there were toilets and showers, there was nowhere for girls to dispose of sanitary products. These products were disposed of outside of the dorms where eventually they would be burned. As 2012 was the International Year of Water we focused strongly on improving sanitation facilities for the girls’ toilets. We were able to fund the purchase of sanitary bins and bags for each toilet, and large scale sanitary bins for use by each dorm.

“The success of the Connecting Classrooms initiative means that the British Council, teaching unions in Botswana, the Botswana Government, and our own fundraising at Charleston Academy, means that six staff from Botswana and nine pupils arrive in Scotland for 10 day visit this weekend. The pupils and staff will spend time in school, working in partnership with our pupils and staff.”

A special welcome assembly at the school will take place on Monday involving young pipers being accompanied by African drums. As well as working in school the Botswana pupils and staff will be taken on some local trips including a visit to the Cairngorms where they might see snow for the first time as well as Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle.

“There will be a fantastic atmosphere in school all week. After a Civic Reception with the Provost on Monday, we also have a African themed fashion show in school on Wednesday evening. Thursday will be a dress down day for all pupils and staff with a safari theme of ‘spots and stripes.”

Pupils are staying with host families in Inverness and the teachers will stay with Charleston Academy staff. Over the Easter weekend the Botswana teachers will stay at the Redcliffe Hotel.

Plans are already well underway for Charleston pupils and staff to undertake a third visit to Botswana in 2014.

Secretary of State for International Development, Justine Greening said: “I am very pleased that Charleston Academy in Inverness is taking on this excellent opportunity to link with schools in other parts of our world. Young people and teachers can make a fantastic contribution by sharing the best of Britain with their peers around the world and at the same time, the great thing is that they can get invaluable knowledge of what life is like in other countries.

Chris O’Neill added:  “Connecting Classrooms will enable pupils to learn about the world around them, about the facts of poverty that face children their own age in developing countries, and how education can help eradicate poverty. It will also benefit teachers by enhancing their professional skills.”

The programme will enable a teacher from Charleston to take part in an exchange visit with Lotsane Senior Secondary School and work on classroom-based projects together, with the aim of giving young people a unique and hands-on international learning experience.

Mrs. Albertinah Milton (Global Coordinator) from Lotsane Senior Secondary School said: “We are really looking forward to further developing our link with Charleston Academy.  We have so much that we can share and learn from each other, Learning and Teaching to enhance both our school student experience”
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