“It’s the human stories of overcoming adversity that jump out at one in Time for School…. Wide Angle’s documentaries are about the real world — the world beyond reality TV and Hollywood excess.”
–Canwest News
“As heart wrenching as it is informative…. You’ll have a pit in your stomach by the end of the show.”
–Families.com
WIDE ANGLE’s unprecedented, award-winning 12-year documentary project, Time for School, returns in 2009 with visits to seven classrooms in seven countries to offer a glimpse into the lives of seven extraordinary children who are struggling to get what nearly all American kids take for granted: a basic education. We started filming in 2002, watching as kids first entered school in Afghanistan, Benin, Brazil, India, Japan, Kenya and Romania, many despite great odds. Several years later, in 2006, we returned to film an update — and now, three years later, we travel to check in on our young teenagers who are making the precarious transition to middle school. Among the highlights: in Afghanistan we reunite with 16-year-old Shugufa, who resolutely remains in school despite the Taliban’s recent acid attacks on young women her age. “If they continue attacking schools, our country won’t progress. Without an education you can’t get anywhere,” says Shufuga, whose own education was delayed when her family lived in a refugee camp in Pakistan during years when the Taliban ruled her country. We also visit the biggest slum in Nairobi, Kenya, where 15-year-old Joab’s mother has died and his father has abandoned the family. We watch as, incredibly, Joab manages to stay at the top of his class while also raising and feeding his two younger siblings. And in the blazing desert of Rajasthan, India, we encounter Neeraj, 15, only to learn that she has been unable to realize her dream of making it to 10th grade: since our last visit her night school has closed, and she now helps support her family by grazing the livestock full-time while her brothers continue their education.
These children’s stories put a human face on the shocking fact that more than 75 million children are currently out of school; of these, two thirds are girls. One in four children in developing countries does not complete five years of basic education, and there are nearly one billion illiterate adults — one-sixth of the world’s people. WIDE ANGLE plans to continue revisiting all the children, and their peers and families, through 2015, the year they should graduate — and, not coincidentally, the U.N.’s target date for achieving universal education, a Millennium Development goal endorsed by all 191 members of the United Nations.
While each child in Time for School 3 has a unique story, taken together their lives tell an epic tale, shedding light on one of the most urgent and under-reported stories of our time.
If anyone is interested in sponsoring secondary school for a girl in Benin, please visit http://www.batongafoundation.org or email info@batongafoundation.org.
I was deeply moved by all the children and their daily struggles and delicate situations! We as people cant help ourselves & take the simples things for granted. Having a realistic program like Wide Angle is perfect reminder not too! I also acknowledge a lot of the misfortune that is happing around the world is man made & politics & greed play a big role. These issues and more need attention to get to the root of the real problem but in the mean time if people can help one child at a time or one situation at a time why not? Helping one child is better than not helping any! I aslo feel this program should be mandatory for students to watch all across the world. Nothing but good could come out of exposing them to the reality. To let them see how priviliaged they are, to hopefully help them appreciate what they have. And hopefully it would touch many students and encourge them when they grow up to make a difference. Educating all children/adults is the key to a better life all around the world…
I would also like information on how to contact Joab directly, thanks!
I enjoyed watching part 1 & 2. I’m so glad bits of the previous times were included.
I loved all the children but three especially caught my attention.
The girl in India, Neeraj, seemed so enamored with school and studying everything but without her parents supporting her efforts, I guess she is not destined to realize her dream of being a teacher.
Jefferson, the Brazilian boy, seems to soak up everything and I hope despite his principal and teacher holding him back a year for his own good, I hope he does continue with his studies even though he may be bored repeating a grade he was successful in passing.
Joab in Kenya… I marvel at his maturity and resilience. I am sad that his mother fell ill and passed away. It’s awful that the neighbors didn’t want anything to do with them because they thought of the disease she might have been ill with. I hope Joab continues to excel in his studies and fulfills his dream of becoming an mechanical engineer.
For those of you who have expressed interest in helping the children in the film, please visit our “How You Can Help” page: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/time-for-school-series/how-you-can-help/5521/
There are organizations listed in the Kenya and Benin sections that work specifically with the kids in the film from those countries, Joab and Nanavi.
Just watched this program last night and was entranced! Brilliant concept! Bravo, need to buy this for myself!
Wide Angle:
Please, please let me/us know where we can purchase a DVD of this wonderful program… hopefully, a DVD that encapsulates all the series from start to end (or to part 3). I want to give this DVD as a gift to my cousin who is a teacher on the west of Chicago. I think this program would provide such a great opportunity for her students to see how other children in other parts of the world are struggling to get an education.
thank you!
Unfortunately Time for School 3 is not available on DVD, but the full episode can be viewed online at: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/time-for-school-series/full-episode-time-for-school-3/5558/#comment-4232.
Some WIDE ANGLE programs, including the original Time for School and Back to School, are available on DVD for educational use only and can be purchased from Films Media Group: http://ffh.films.com/wideangle
Kudos to Wide Angle for the wonderful work they have done once again in ‘Time for School 3′ and in the entire series! I am a teacher on Long Island & the advisor of Kenya Krew, and I wanted to jump in to respond to some of the wonderful responses from so many of you. If you would like to assist the children of Ayany Primary School (Joab’s school), my students and I would welcome your donations to our project!
I’m thrilled to see that so many people were spurred to action by Joab’s story — it is truly heart-wrenching, and he is an incredible inspiration.
The group my students and I have started, Kenya Krew, is aimed at building a school library at Ayany Primary School (as many of you have read on Wide Angle’s website). We have raised about $8000 toward our goal of $15,000, but some of that money has been used to replace the desks in the 7th grade classroom at Ayany, and to create a temporary Reading Room for the students until the library is constructed. Therefore, we may actually end up having to raise more than the original $15,000 — we are in the process of reassessing the amount.
We have been working closely with the principal of Joab’s school, and as you can see on the website, we have developed tran-Atlantic friendships with the Ayany children through our pen pal activities. While donations to Kenya Krew would not go directly to Joab and his siblings, they would benefit all of the children of Ayany, many of whose stories are equally compelling and inspirational. If you are interested in contributing to our Kenya Krew project, you may send your donation to my attention at Lawrence Middle School, 195 Broadway, Lawrence, NY 11559. Checks should be made to Lawrence Middle School, with “Kenya Krew” written in the Memo line. We wire money directly from our account to Joab’s school, so that we are assured that the money ends up where it is intended.
Ken, your organization sounds like it is doing wonderful work — I would certainly be interested in connecting with you by phone or email to discuss further our shared interest in working with the children of Kibera.
Thank you all for your interest in Joab, his siblings and all of the children of Kibera. Please feel free to respond to my posting if you have any questions regarding Kenya Krew, and of course we welcome your donations to our cause!
Best wishes to all,
Karen Weiner, Kenya Krew advisor (NY)
I just wanted to add one more avenue for communication with Joab … I notice that many people have posted an interest in being able to send Joab a letter to let him know how compelling his story is for you and what an inspiration he is as a person who perseveres in the face of huge obstacles. My students and I write letters to our friends at Ayany Primary School, and I would be happy to include some additional letters to Joab (or to the children of Ayany in general — or to Joab’s sister/brother) in our next parcel of letters. If you would like to send such communication, please send them to my attention at the address listed in my previous posting. I do read all letters that we send, so as long as you are comfortable with that, please share your thoughts with Joab and his family/school mates. I am sure it will bring smiles to their faces to know that people here have been inspired by their stories. Thank you!
Wide Angle
I am not wealthy, but I would like to do something to help Joab and Nanavi. Can you please contact me so that this might be arranged. Thank you so very much.
What a wounderful educational show!!!!!!! I’m from Brazil, but I live in u.s.a. for 25 years.
Please! how can I contact Mr. Brown’s office? Help me please.
Thank you!!!
After catching some of this program (#3) I was quickly hooked. The children’s lives are mesmerizing. It reminded me of what I learned at my a MA program in International Education. I agree with Lori that this should required viewing. It’s the 7up series meets International Education. Keep up the good work, PBS!
For those of you interested in helping similar children all over the world, there are lots of organizations that you can volunteer though and not just by donating money. Instead of taking another vacation at the beach, consider spending a week or two volunteer to work with children in another country.
I just happened to catch “Time for School 3″ by chance. What an amazing hour! Thank you PBS and Wide Angle. Now I need to watch 1 and 2!
Dear Joab, I think you are a wonderful person and that you will fulfill your dream. I am hoping that the producers of wide angle will find a way so we can help you directly and to help your school. I would like to send supplies directly to the school and to help you pay your education. I will certainly donate to the other organizations but I hope that there is a way to help you directly.
I am a middle school teacher and am very interested in purchasing the Wide Angle: Back to School series. Please let me know if the series is for sale and for how much. Mahalo from Hawaii!
Hi Anne —
Thanks for your interest in the Time for School series.
Some WIDE ANGLE programs, including the original Time for School and Back to School, are available on DVD for educational use only and can be purchased from Films Media Group: http://ffh.films.com/wideangle
Unfortunately Time for School 3 is not available on DVD at the moment, but the full episode can be viewed online at: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/time-for-school-series/full-episode-time-for-school-3/5558/#comment-4232.
This installment is so timely as the world coalesces around creating a plan to put all kids in school around the globe. Organizations like RESULTS, Global Campaign for Education, ONE Campaign, FIFA and the World Cup, 1Goal, and others are pushing for Education for All via creation of a Global Fund for Education. US Leadership by President Obama will be key in breathing life into this new tool. I encourage all of us to mobilize students, soccer players, and ourselves to contact the President on this issue: http://tinyurl.com/EdForAll2010
Hello I thank you for collaboration. CONGRATULATION TO all the team of PBS. Je wish best things to Judy, Tamara and Herve Cohen.
Live to the exhange between USA and Benin. Anselme HOUNKPATIN.
I think this series is absolutely amazing! We just got done watching 3/4 of the latest episode in my liberal studies class at my college and all I have to say is WOW. The stark contrast between the countries as well as the education of males and females is mindboggling. Education is key!
Well done Wide Angle :)
I would love to purchase a copy of this series to use with my high school students… is it for sale anywhere?
Dear Carolyn,
Thank you for your interest in WIDE ANGLE’s Time for School Series. DVDs for educational use can be purchased from Films Media Group, at http://ffh.films.com/wideangle.
Dear Karen wainer,
I was wondering if you can send me your phone or email to make a donation. We only have your address but would like to learnt more about your effort with the library.
best, Isabel (ikalofonos@comcast.net)
My heart was crushed seeing Neeja leave, she had no choice but to leave. She;s in a situation beyond her control. I am a teacher here, you inspired me to think of fund raising activities that will involve my students so we could help even in small ways.
I have been using the dvd on line to show my ECE community college students these children as part of a project looking at international child care and the rights of children. When will these three segments be available for purchase as the on line feed often is interrupted and won’t go forward to play. Very frustrating to the class. How might I purchase?
Judy Lindamood
Dept Chair, ECE/EDU/HSV
Bunker Hill Community College
Boston
I would love to purchase a copy of this series. Is it possible to purchase it?
the rate of achievment of is low in PNG resulting in many overgrown adults in institution. i.e ag of 30-40 apart from the non school leaver
Since the videos are no longer available online, is there a way to purchase them? I own Back to School and have shown it countless times to student groups. Would love to have either Time for School 1 or 3?
My class just finished watching Time for School 3 and I, personally, would love to know when the 2012 filming is planned. Since it is done every three years leading to 2015, I am very eager for the year after 2011.
Have you any idea? Or am I not to ask?
Or was that bit of information elsewhere that I amn’t aware of?