TANZANIAN headteachers have visited Meirionnydd in order to strengthen cultural links between the region and Africa.

Through the link established several years ago between the dioceses of St Asaph and South West Tanganyika, two Tanzanian primary school headteachers are currently visiting schools in the area to gain experience and ideas for improving teaching methods in their own schools and communities.

School visits include to Beuno Sant, Bro Tegid, y Berwyn and O M Edwards in Bala and Penllyn; and to Hafod Lon, and Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor which have sent books and materials to aid in the establishment of a carpentry school in the village in 2015, with the assistance of student Iwan Edwards.

Numerous cultural exchanges have taken place between Bala and Milo, Tanzania in recent years.

Casimir Kayombo has been headteacher of Milo Primary school for four years and was the “delighted” recipient of 10 laptop computers in the summer of 2016 with the help of two pupils from Ysgol y Berwyn, Mael Evans and Rhys Hughes.

In addition to the benefit to teachers and pupils, adult learning in the village has taken a “great leap forward”.

David Mgoye is headteacher of the private, English-medium, St Mary’s Primary School in regional capital Njombe. The visitors are struck by the marked difference they find in the ratio between teacher/adult to pupil.

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