Good Shepherd Convent Case Study

Sister Iolanthi:
1. Is your school an all girls governmental school?
all girls not government school, assisted school
charge $ from children but gov helps
in one way private but not completely
2. Does the school provide lunch?
no
a. Do students ever go home to eat lunch?
no, bring snack: rice bread something small
3. Is there plumbing and running water at the school?
yes
4. Does the school provide transportation?
no, most students take private school vans
5. Do students pay for their own textbooks?
yes they don't pay money because they provide exercise books but textbooks get from gov
6. Do students have to pay to attend school?
all pay school fees, 400 rupees per month (convert)
another 400 for equipment fees
7. Is there a place where students can use computers?
computer lab
8. Do students take a sexual education course?
classes 6 upwards, about 12 in age, sexual education during science period

9. Whats the average teacher-student ratio?

1200 students, 55 teachers
22 students a class
10. From the overall school budget, how much money is allotted for each student?
not sure
11. Is there a basic certification that teachers must have to teach?
degree holders
particular in colombo diocese catholic school
1 yr catholic teachers program every saturday
even if buddhist has to do diploma course in catholic teachers education
12. Would you say the curriculum relies more on textbook content or teacher
instruction?
more student based education
use textbooks, try to be student based
13. What resources could the school use that it doesnt already have?
multimedia
have posters
if we had multimedia students would be happier and understand lesson
14. What are the challenges that you face running this school?
sometimes 1 or 2 students are hyperactive
disturb class
make sounds
beating other children

not in every class but something i face

some won't do hw
parents working not helping student at home, challenges because they haven't done hw or
brought material
15. Do most students go to uni after secondary school?
not most but a few
16. What do non uni kids do?
they will follow a course
or go to uni by private sector
higher studies through private sector
online course, maybe on english, to make them competent
17. Whats your favorite thing about working at this school?
very interesting
working with smaller children, 8 or 9 in age
interesting when i teach math

Amanda:
1. Are both of your biological parents alive?
yes
2. Have your caretakers supported you and your goals?
yes they did everything for me
3. Did your caretakers attend secondary school?
yes
4. Do you have siblings?

no
5. Do your caretakers struggle to pay for tuition and textbooks?
sometimes it is hard to do our day to day activities but education comes first
sometimes its easy cause theres nothing more practical than to pay for education
6. Would you say you are doing well in school?
ya its my last year and Im enjoying it
struggle with?
economy, little bit behind another student, so I have to work with it a lot
7. What is your typical day like?
now I'm getting up around 4 o'clock these days because Im studying for exams
i leave for school around 6
I'm a prefect so i have to come early
7:30 school starts
4 periods, 30 min interval, another 4 periods
2:30 going home
wash
studying
around 9 going to bed
8. What is your attendance record like?
very sad I have to miss my school in 5 months
very sad
a. When you dont come to school what are the reasons?
I'm only child and I'm at school more than I'm with my parents so ill miss it a lot

they've given to me and Ive given back

9. Do you like your uniform?
throughout country
every school wears uniform like this
can't wear colors to school
but its good because we can all feel that were one in a school
that our loyalty is shown to our school
if you had choice?
well if we have a choice and if our mr principal allow we will prepare to wear colors instead of
uniforms but I don't think well get that chance
10. Do you have to walk during any part of your commute to school?
use a bus, common transport
walk to the bus and from bus stand to school
usually my parents drop me to school morning and afternoon
25 mins
11. Did your caretakers get to choose which school you would attend?
yes I went to preschool of this same school
so after i came to same school
liked it lot because its a convent
a. Yes: How did they decide?
because they had their own experience in this convent
saw that work is happening

preferred to put me into this school because rules, regulations, discipline is more here than at
other schools
our town and our school
12. Would you say your textbooks are in good condition?
I'm head prefect so i can't stay all 8 periods in my school, so i get notes from friends
13. Do you feel that attending this school has shaped your future? How so?
yes
Ive gotten much more opportunities from this school
attending extracurricular activities
helped me build my future
14. What do you want to be when youre older?
my mother is a journalist so I prefer to be a journalist
15. What will you be doing once you graduate?
following A levels in stream of commerce
ill have to do some extra courses to make some educational qualifications
after that Ill follow some kind of course for journalism
and Ill be a journalist from there
16. Do you feel prepared for the future?
lots of things make it easier
creative writing and all that
collect enough experience to make my future

17. How would you say you choose your friends? What do you and your friends have
in common?
i think Im not a very social person, i mean i make a special effort when Im choosing my
friends, i see how they're acting with other people, and take some time to make friends, i wont
make friends right away, depends how they act with others
the most special thing is that we all love our school, its very sad that we have to leave our school
in a few months, and all the time we talk about that
our attitudes are same
18. What would you say makes you unique?
I think i cannot find another person like me in this world. i dont think anyone can take my place
because of my talents or my attitudes
19. What does success mean to you?
i think it differs to each person, the goals of each of is different, one can say now I succeed, and
another can say now i cannot succeed, everyone should have a goal in his or her life and once
they reach that goal id call it success
a. According to that definition, are you successful, or will you be?
still Im 18 yrs old and for my age i think Im successful because Ive gained everything
a student and daughter should gain at this age so i think Im successful at my age