Dr. Getnet Pre-Primary & Primary School
(formerly Azena)
Dr. Getnet Pre-Primary & Primary Elementary School (DGPS) was officially opened in October 2016, for grades 1-4. Prior to that there was only one elementary school (Grades: 1-8) in the town serving 2,329 children. A high dropout rate and delayed enrolment were common. While achievement was poor on standard exams at that time, our intervention seems to have been very successful, with the new school ranking first in academic achievement on the regional standard tests in the past three years. In 2019, the school also received an award for outstanding student behaviour. Two of our Directors attended an award ceremony at DGPS in October 2019 and were delighted with the very wide variety of awards for achievement and participation, celebrating the holistic approach to education. In 2021 an addition to the school was built such that it now accommodates students from kindergarten to grade 8 and it has a new special needs class.
Water pipes have been installed that connect the school to the water source in the nearby town of Azena. These provide water for the orchard and shade trees, as well as to the wash stations in the schoolyard. All other aspects of our holistic approach are progressing well at DGPS. The school is considered by the regional education department to be a centere of excellence for the zone.
The teacher training, water and sanitation and greening programs are ongoing, and incorporation of the educational gardening component into the curricula is being developed. Innovative tools for learner-centered and experiential learning are being introduced extensively. The primary school kindergarten and prekindergarten and special needs classes, funded by the Kalamalka Rotary Club, are extremely well equipped and successful.
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