Due to enrollment surpassing capacity in senior high schools across Ghana, groups of students take rotating breaks throughout the year, attending school for two months then being sent home for a two to three month break before returning to school.
During these extended breaks from Senior High School, each Anansi student can attend a 2-week Host-and-Teach at the Anansi House in Mpeasem twice a year. Students receive lessons and tutoring, ethics classes, leadership skill building, as well as 3-meals a day. Local students visit each day and out of town students sleep at the Anansi House. This program was developed in 2020 by Daniel Osei, Anansi’s Managing Director in Ghana, and classes are taught by Anansi graduates and local teachers.
Federal Curriculum
Lessons adhere to federal curriculum standards and are tailored to areas of study. Science tract students have classes in biology, physics, and chemistry. General Arts and Home Economic students have classes in social studies, biology, and integrated science.
Leadership Sessions
About a quarter of Host-and-Teach sessions are dedicated to preparing students for the world ahead of them with professional skills and ethics classes. This session was inspired by Daniel Osei’s studies at Ashesi University.
First year students learn teamwork, presentation, text and meaning, and leadership. Second year students learn problem-solving, servant leadership, and ethics. Third year students learn final examination study skills and giving back.
“For children coming from the poorest of the poor, learning to be leaders is a giant step.” – Kathryn Roe, Founder and Director
- Presenting Skills: After being assigned topics to present and debate, students learn to conduct internet research, build a presentation that balances statistics, pathos, and ethos, and then receive feedback on their presentations.
- Text and Meaning: This session helps students develop critical thinking skills and expression. In one activity students are shown images and asked to share both what they think about the image intrinsically and then extrinsically. In another activity music is played for students and they are asked to share their interpretation. Due to their age, economic status, and a public education system that emphasizes listening and note-taking — students have not cultivated self-expression skills that will be valuable to their professional success. These exercises give students opportunity to explore self-expression.
- Ethics: Students learn about their own power to create good in society by reflecting on their role within their communities and expanding their benefit to others. They practice voicing their values, which challenges students to articulate their personal code of ethics.
- Basic Computer Programming: Many students have no access to computers at school or in their communities. By learning basic programming skills during Host-and-Teach, students can make informed decisions about whether to pursue IT studies and careers. The Anansi House has six Raspberry Pi computers and monitors for students to learn and practice programming.
- Career Path Development: Third year students explore career choices and are challenged to examine their motivations for each possibility. Students also receive guidance about how their current academic tract can proceed as a programs of study at university, and which universities they might be able to attend.
- Give Back: Students learn about ways, without money, to give back to their communities, families, and friends. After these discussions, students are paired up and go out to practice giving back. Anansi students often choose to provide free classes to younger students, presenting about topics like exam preparation skills to younger students or substance abuse awareness.