Meet Stephen Mbise Siyoi

“For me teaching is not a job. It’s like a hobby. I love teaching children”

Stephen is the head teacher of Oldonyo Sambu Primary School since February 2016 and a father of two girls and a boy. He has been teaching for 12 years and Oldonyo Sambu is his first position as a head teacher. Stephen teaches all subjects but his favourites are Mathematics, English and Geography. Stephen gets up early every week day to travel one hour and in three Dala Dalas from Arusha to Oldonyo Sambu.

ISZL: Stephen, what is your vision for Oldonyo Sambu Primary School?

Stephen: My goal is to improve the academic performances of the students by making sure they all learn how to read, write and to count and calculate. Also I would like to improve the collaboration between the teachers. Lastly I want the students to like to come to our school.

ISZL: How do you make students want to go to school.

Stephen: It is important that we create a nice environment for the children and that the teachers are friendly. One aspect also is that students are fed during lunch. They often walk to school from far away. Up to eight kilometers one way. It is important that they get food for lunch. Unfortunately we mostly don’t have the money to provide food for them.

ISZL: In Primary School students learn English as a subject. In Secondary School all instruction happens in English. What do you think about that?

Stephen: I think it would be good to already teach in English in Primary School. It is a world language and is very important in many fields in Tanzania. I think it would give students an advantage when they already know English well when they get to Secondary School.

ISZL: Stephen, if you had the power to change one thing in Education in Tanzania, what would it be?

Stephen: I would change the curriculum. Even though it changes frequently it does not teach the students well enough to be independent learners. I think it would be better to teach students to be more independent.

ISZL: Thanks a lot, Stephen.

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