Multi-service Training Center Rearch Findings (Carpentry)

Carpentry
The section had 14 students and 3 instructors, 3 students gave-up and 11 are present. The reason for the 3 drop out, they were asked by the school administration to remain in their places of work (since they were working) due to punctuality issue.

Observation
In my mind, the students of the carpentry were hard working group. They were in groups for practical work for 2 hours. In this two hours each of the group are to prepare a cardboard to keep cups. Although they really work hard as a group trying to manifest their vocational skills and knowledge, the following were not taken into consideration:
• Tools were not enough.
• Students were not putting on globes or shoes safety.
• Nothing was cover on their nostrils.
• Teacher was busy chatting with his colleagues.

I was console by the effort of the students were sharing tools. Despite the shortage of the tools, the groups were able to finish their work on time. To me, it was amazing that they are actually learning from each by sharing tools and skills because they were correcting other groups with less participation of the some members.

In my mind, the important point of learning during this process was punctuality. They were able to put effort together and finish their job on time although some were late. That for me is learning and acquiring vocational skills and knowledge.

I had an opportunity of sharing some vocational experiences and thoughts with an instructor called John Ojara. Sometimes most teachers in the center really don’t feel comfortable to teach due to their vocational qualification. They feel shallow with their vocational skills or experiences because sometimes the students ask question and an instructor is an able to answer not that he does not know but less qualify.




They were not given chance to up-grade their vocational skills both in universities and other higher vocational institutes in Khartoum due to the mentality that V.T.Cs are for those who can grasp beyond the workshop. Actually for him, JICA is doing less in up-grading the teachers and bringing more machines some of which instructors do not know how to operate them.

Reflection
In my mind, JICA is actually focusing more on equipping the workshops with machines and less on training the teachers. To me sending an instructor for 2 weeks, 3 months or even 6 months is not a training that can up-grade the vocational qualification but rather for learning language.

In reality, they are send to be train on how to make lesson plan, teaching methodologies and other subjects that concern the teacher only and I wonder what happen with student. Sometimes instructors are send to Uganda (Nakawa Institute) for training and the training there does not manifest what is in reality back in Southern Sudan. Hence, it becomes monotonous for many teachers. The system of training teachers needs to be change and make it to be two or three years instead of two or three months.

By Paul Tartisio Kenyi