Saint Joseph Primary School

The Basic Schools, or what we in the United States would call Elementary Schools, are overflowing with kids.  Most basic schools are open structures with a simple tin roof, cement floor, and no walls. If the kids are lucky, they will have an enclosed classroom.

These beautiful children are eager to learn and take great pride in their education; they love coming to school. There are often not enough workbooks and materials for each students. When asked about this the teacher said "we do not have enough for all the students; we cannot afford enough." The cost of a workbook is about $0.25 a piece.

While their classrooms are very basic, their attitudes toward learning and self-development are none of the sort! These children radiate the love of Christ. You can see hope in their eyes.

After graduating from elementary school, you continue onto Junior school, or what we in the US would call a middle-school. At this age the kids are no longer learning to read, but are reading to learn and they have set goals for themselves. They know what it takes to get into Senior High School, and so they have to work very hard to pass their coming entrance exams to gain admittance. With the creation of Our Lady of Grace Senior High School, it has created an additional motivation for these kids to work hard so that they might one day come to that very modern facility and even have a chance at University education. All the boats are rising in the community because of our presence there, not just those directly benefiting from an education at Our Lady of Grace Senior High School.