Teachers are on a mission to help kids in Malawi

Trio will swap schools in September

A trio of teachers from Renfrewshire will travel to Africa to teach children living tough lives.

Lynne McGinn, headteacher of Todholm Primary, in Paisley, will be joined by fellow Todholm Primary teacher Gillian Struthers and Frances Wilson, of St Anne’s Primary, in Erskine, as they travel to Malawi to get involved in the education of youngsters there.

It is part of the Malawi Leaders of Learning project, which was launched in September 2011.

This was set up by Glasgow City Council’s education department and has now been extended to include teachers from other local authorities.

Lynn said: “I found out about this and then it was a case of applying.

“Twelve of us in total are going – three from Renfrewshire.”

Todholm Primary already has strong ties with Malawi.

“Some of our children have pen pals in Malawi and they write to children in Malawi, so our trip will make stronger links,” Lynn added.

Lynn and her two colleagues will certainly have their work cut out for them when they get to Malawi, not least in the number of children they will be teaching.

“The government of Malawi will decide where we go,” she said.

“But one school has 7000 pupils and class sizes can be 150 to 200 children, so it will be quite a different experience.”

While in Malawi, Lynn and her colleagues will aim to keep in touch with their schools online.

“We are hoping to Skype the children,” she said. It’s going to be an exciting experience.”

In 2015, Malawi Leaders of Learning was awarded more than £200,000 in funding grants from the Scottish government to be used in further development up to this year.

Those taking part come from a range of backgrounds, and include primary headteachers, quality improvement officers, primary teachers, secondary teachers, Active Schools coordinators, nursery heads and child development officers.

To get involved please visit www. glasgoweducationmlol.org.uk for more details.

The Renfrewshire teachers are heading to Malawi in September.

It’s going to be an exciting experience Lynn McGinn