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Why we're replacing chalk with whiteboards in Tanzanian classrooms
Chalk has been part of classroom life for generations. Here's why we think it's time for a cleaner, healthier alternative, and what the switch really involves.
Walk into almost any primary school classroom in Tanzania and you'll see the same thing: a large blackboard at the front, a teacher with a stick of chalk, and rows of pupils, many of them with a small chalk slate on the desk in front of them. It's a picture that has hardly changed in generations.
Chalk has served schools faithfully for a very long time. It's cheap, it's familiar and it works. So why are we asking schools to swap it for whiteboards? The short answer is dust.
The problem with chalk dust
Every time a teacher writes on a blackboard, a little chalk turns to fine dust. Every time the board is wiped, much more of it lifts into the air. Multiply that by a full school day, then by a full school year, and it adds up to a lot of dust in a room full of children.
It's not only the big board. Pupils working on personal chalk slates write, wipe and write again, often with their hands or sleeves. The dust ends up in the air, on desks, on uniforms and on hands that later touch faces and food.
Chalk dust is generally considered a nuisance dust rather than a poison, but that doesn't make it harmless. It can:
- irritate the eyes, nose and throat
- cause coughing and sneezing, particularly when boards are wiped
- make things harder for children and adults with asthma or allergies
- dry out and irritate the skin on hands
Teachers get the highest exposure of all. They stand closest to the board, day after day, often for their whole career.
A classroom should be the healthiest room in a child's day, not one they breathe dust in for six hours.
Why whiteboards?
Whiteboards solve the dust problem at the source. Markers don't produce dust, and a dry eraser wipes the board clean without sending anything into the air. But the benefits go further than that.
Clearer writing, better lessons
Dark ink on a bright white surface is easier to read than chalk on a worn blackboard, especially from the back of a crowded classroom or on a bright day. Teachers can also use different colours to highlight key points.
Every pupil taking part
Mini whiteboards replace chalk slates at the desk. When a teacher asks a question, every pupil can write the answer and hold it up at the same time. The teacher sees straight away who has understood and who needs help, and quieter pupils get to take part without speaking in front of the class.
Built to last
A good whiteboard, looked after properly, lasts for many years. We supply markers, erasers and cleaning materials with every board, and show teachers how to keep them in good condition.
What Whiteboards for All includes
For each classroom taking part, we aim to provide:
- a large classroom whiteboard for the teacher
- personal mini whiteboards to replace pupils' chalk slates
- a supply of markers, erasers and cleaning materials
- a short introduction for teachers on getting the most from their boards
Much of the equipment is sourced through our partners in Europe and shipped to Tanzania, where we deliver it directly to the schools we work with. You can read more about that journey in From Europe to the classroom.
How you can help
Every classroom we equip is a room where children and teachers can spend their day without breathing chalk dust. If you'd like to help us reach the next one, whether through a donation, a partnership or donated equipment, we'd love to hear from you.
Find out how to get involved →
This article is for general information only. It isn't medical advice. Anyone worried about their breathing or health should speak to a qualified health professional.