In the morning hours around Giporoso on your way to Kabeza, there is a heavy traffic jam with people heading to their respective workplaces—cars and taxi-motos hooting their way into traffic. Amid all that morning chaos, voices of teachers at work can be heard from a nearby school, Remera Protestant Primary School. It brings back memories of about 20 years ago when I was called an ‘empty bottle’ by my teacher because I failed to understand what she was teaching. This is not what I heard from the school I just mentioned, it is just a fraction of my imagination based on my own personal experiences with ‘teachers’ voices’. So the question is; how can learning go beyond the teacher’s voice? How can we teach and pass knowledge effectively? Teaching and learning has stood the test of time; the process can be spontaneous and exciting, but only when also encouraged outside the walls of the classroom. Outside the classroom setting, it encourages discussions and interaction of students. This kind of learning helps students bond and it builds relationships that go way beyond school. This kind of learning is crucial since it helps learners understand the ‘real world’ better at an early stage. Outside-the-classroom type of learning is highly recommendable in this contemporary world. Educationists must always remember post-school challenges and prepare their students for life after school. Graduates sometimes join society, with all its ups and downs, and are unaware of how to deal with challenges, let alone build themselves. Field trips are a good way to start, though some parents may not see the value in this kind of learning, mainly because of the costs involved. It’s clear that parents have not been sensitised enough about the significance of this kind of learning and the value it can add to their children’s education. The engagements and experiences students acquire along the way also make it worthwhile. This form of learning also provides teachers with an opportunity to understand their students’ competencies deeply and evaluate accordingly. The way forward is clear. It is important that instructors work on educating learners while offering various learning perspectives. The writer is PhD student at Beijing Normal University pontiankbr@outlook.com
