Lucas, originally from Nzega in Tabora, has dedicated nearly three decades of his life to teaching. He graduated from university in 1993 and the following year, he moved to Mwanza, where he has been shaping young minds as a teacher for almost 31 years.
Lucas fondly recalls his schooling days when classrooms held only 14 or 15 students, making it easy to focus on each child’s learning. Today, with growing class sizes, the task has become far more complex.
Overcrowding makes it difficult to identify individual challenges or provide the personalized support students need. He shares a vivid example from his early years teaching kindergarten and Class 1 students. Teaching children how to hold a pen, a basic yet crucial skill was nearly impossible in cramped classrooms. He would have to hold up a pen and shout instructions to the entire class, unable to walk around and guide each child personally.
For Lucas, the goal remains simple: to ensure every student learns to read and write. But achieving this requires more than dedication; the school needs better infrastructure and more teachers to meet the growing demand.