ACTS Expanded Educational Programs
ACTS believes education for orphans helps fight poverty. ACTS provides schooling for orphans in its care and for village children who pay nominal fees to attend. The number of students enrolled for 2009-2010 at the ACTS pre-school through secondary schools and speed schools is 1377.
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| A few of the pupils on June 2009 graduation day at Ecole La Solidarite |
Burkina Faso requires students to take standardized tests to progress to the next level of study. We are proud of the students from the ACTS schools as they have done well in these required exams.
The secondary school, Ezra College, opened in October of 2008 with 78 students. This school is the only secondary school within walking distance to the surrounding community.
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ACTS Secondary school Headmaster Pastor Rufin talks with one of the students about his exam paper.
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The ACTS orphans are able to attend this school at no cost and village children will pay a nominal fee.
In addition to a solid academic education, students take Bible school courses. With the knowledge and confidence students receive at the ACTS schools, they are well prepared to lead a productive life or for continued educational opportunities.
Many more families have enquired and desire to have their children attend the school. Enrollment at this school will increase for the school year 2009-2010.
The ACTS Center began a specialized school for children in 2007.
The speed school program is for children who are having difficulty with their studies, have never been to school or who were dismissed because of their low achievement. This program enrolls students from 24 villages in the district where the ACTS Center is located. One of these classes is being offered at the ACTS Center in Saonré. Students study for nine months and then are given an exam to test their level of academics. They will be placed in the proper level of school for the next year. At the end of the first year, 211 pupils were able to be transferred to traditional schools in the district of Komsilga.
In 2007 more than 700 orphans and other vulnerable children are enrolled in the “speed school” program. When the school year 2008-2009 opened, the 12 centers for speed schools were expanded to 20 in the districts of Komsilga, komki-Ipala and ouagadougou. Out of the 573 new recruits, 400 were transferred to government grammar schools in the three districts. The families living in the districts are beginning to understand the importance of school for their children and are asking for the project to be extended.
Without additional funding, this project cannot be expanded further. Money is needed for instructors' salaries, classroom materials, books, food for lunches and uniforms.
ACTS published the curriculum for students enrolled in the speed school program and produced the materials for training the first 24 instructors. Additional textbooks and training materials are needed for the course to continue. Text books include math, reading, science and Bible lessons.
A feeding program ensures that students will be fed one to three meals a day depending in which program they are enrolled. These orphans and other vulnerable children will be able to concentrate because “an empty stomach does not have ears.”
Throughout the year ACTS will feed nearly 1,000 orphans one lunch a day and the 85 orphans who sleep at the ACTS Center will be served their breakfast and evening meal as well.
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| Pre-schoolers at the ACTS orphanage now have an opportunity to learn French, and basics like counting and colors. They are served a hot vitamin enriched lunch of rice, vegetables and meat. |
Another exciting program was launched in October 2008. This is a pre-school for the orphans at the ACTS Center and the community. ACTS staff member Antonnette loves little children and began teaching the little ones French and other basics to prepare them to enter the grammar school.
A few years ago ACTS began a regular grammar school for orphans enrolled in the ACTS program. the school is called "Ecole La Solidarite." ACTS published curriculum for the grammar school. During the school year 2008/2009 a total of 233 pupils attended the school.
Vocational training is offered at the ACTS Center for students from the village of Saonré who are older and do not want to attempt regular studies. Vocational training is available in the areas of sewing, carpentry, animal husbandry, gardening, small machine repair and welding.
The objective of the vocational training is to assist the children in building skills for employment when they reach 18 years of age. ACTS has contracted with businesses in Ouagadougou for graduates to be under the tutelage of professionals in their chosen vocation.
ACTS placed 11 girls in the workshops of seamstresses in Ouagadougou for on the job training. At the end of their internships, the girls will be graded on their performance. Those who have sufficient skills will be given micro-credit to begin their own business. Four young carpenters worked with carpenters in Ouagadougou last year.
The ACTS bakery, run last year by one of the orphans, has sparked the interest of the young men and women in learning how to cook different types of food. The baker, Jacob, and a number of other orphans are taking a new course being offered in culinary arts. The course will allow students to learn how to plan, prepare and serve meals. This will give them skills for future employment in restaurants, hotels, conference centers or their own business. The students are very excited about this course.
Children in our classes are eager to learn and they listen attentively in classes. They have proven themselves to be able to meet the high academic standards at the ACTS schools.
