The Open Classroom Provides Quality Instruction and Educational Tools to L.E.A. Ungwar Rimi Public Primary School

The Open Classroom, our school-based NGO, has embarked upon a program to provide quality education for students at the L.E.A. Ungwar Rimi Primary School, Kaduna. L.E.A. Primary School, Ungwar Rimi, is one of many public schools in the Kaduna North Local Government area. There are about 4,000 children at this specific L.E.A. which is very close to the Ungwar Rimi Market. This effort was conceived as a grassroots extension of the on-going community service principles and ideals established by the Principal of Essence International School and founder of The Open Classroom Mrs. D. L. Mohammed. This new program is part of the commemorative activites leading up to the school's 25th anniversary celebration and is a demonstration of our school motto - merit, achievement and service.

The program, which began in September 2006 and will continue until July 2007, was initiated to establish a Spelling Bee competition at the school. The Spelling Bee is an ideal forum where the students will be able to learn and spell new words, gain confidence while speaking in public and enhance their speaking and reading skills. Since September, the teachers and Senior Secondary students from Essence International School have been volunteering their time to prepare the students for the Spelling Bee. They have been providing instruction in English, Spelling and Vocabulary. The students work is also being documented in individual folders designed by the Open Classroom

In addition to their efforts, The Open Classroom is assisting with improving the classroom environment at the L.E.A. by donating desks and chairs for the students, most of whom were sitting on the unfinished classroom floors. Donations of pencils, rulers, erasers and sharpeners have also come in from concerned individuals and their support has made a lot of difference. Another donation of teachers' desks and chairs was also made to the L.E.A by the Essence Class of 1991 (see here for more info). Additional work will be needed as the classrooms have been neglected over the years and require a lot of repair - the ceilings are caving in, the walls and floors are unfinished and the blackboards have holes in them.

To see some of our teachers in action and view some of their work at L.E.A., please view the Picture Gallery below. There are also many pictures of the students, who are primarily from poor and destitute homes, in their classrooms trying to learn in spite of their appalling conditions. The Open Classroom and Essence International School firmly believe in teaching via community service and the spirit of volunteerism. It provides these children and many like them with the opportunity to learn and gives them hope that there are people in this world who care about others and take action to make a difference.

If you would like to find out more information or would like to offer your assistance, please contact us at openclassroom@essenceschool.com or openclassroom2000@yahoo.com.
You can also check out our newsletter on the Essence News page, click here.