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Lycée de Tohoun's teachers and staff are gathered around the
Togolese flag at the center of the campus. Most of the teachers are recent
graduates of the University of Benin in Lomé, Togo and are currently
in their first teaching position. The teachers' degrees are generally in
the subjects which they teach, including Mathematics, Biology, Physical
Science, Philosophy, French, English, German, Social Studies, and Sports.
Courses are generally taught in French starting in the sixth grade.
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Lycée de Tohoun has 143 students divided into 6 classes (two each
at the equivalent of grades 10, 11, and 12). Many of the students who
attend come from other villages in the vicinity and so have to board near
the school when it is in session. Eleven of the students currently
enrolled are female. In this region of Togo, tradition works against
sending girls to school. The Principal, Mr. Kossi, encourages parents to
send both their sons and their daughers to school. Students, wearing khaki
uniforms, are gathered for an assembly in the picture to the right.
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| The Lycée's students follow one of two tracks, designed to
prepare students for national baccalaureate examinations.
Students in the Natural Science track study French, Philosophy, English,
Biology, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and History/Geography. The
Literary track students start German in tenth grade and study philosophy
intensely with somewhat less emphasis on Math and Science. To finish high
school, students must pass national examination at the end of 11th grade
and of 12th grade. In 1999 about 48% of the students in this school passed
their exams, giving the Lycée the highest passing rate in the
region. The picture to the right shows Susan as a visiting teacher during
January, 2000, talking about the periodic table and chemical bonding to a
10th grade class.
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| Students are anxious to expand on the information and ideas presented
in their baccalaureate curriclum. The 12th graders in the picture to the
right were curious about biochemistry, and so Susan talked with them about
this during her recent visit. Despite limited blackboard space, and some
dust, the open air apatame classrooms were pleasantly cool and conducive to
conversation.
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| Susan visited the newest Junior High School in the region in Tado,
just North of Tohoun. Here she is visiting a class with the Principal and
an English teacher. In grades 6 through 9 students study French, English,
Social Studies, Biology, Math, and Physical Sciences. To enter high school
these students need to pass a national examination called the "BEPC".
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| One of the highlights of Susan's visit to Lycée de Tohoun was
meeting the teachers for a drink after work for a lively discussion. They
asked many stimulating questions about the USA, and covered such topics as
Native Americans, Bill and Hilary Clinton, "self-made man", HIV, molecular
biology, the internet, television, and the NBA's Chicago Bulls.
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