...and then there was one

At the beginning of the year there were a total of 13 students enrolled in the Accounting Progam at the Technical College.  Over the course of two terms the numbers gradually decreased.  Supposed reasons for the drop in the numbers included unawareness of what Accounting involved, difficulty of classes, dissatisfaction with boarding, and financial difficulties.   I say "supposed reasons" because most of the students never told us they were leaving or why.  They just didn't show up anymore.  The exodus of students continued until at the beginning of the third term when I had a total of four students.  A week into the third term, Agness had a baby making it difficult to come to class for a few weeks and almost impossible to catch up this year so she decided not to return this year.  We, or at least I, had no idea she was even pregnant.  The second week of term three Munderanji (directly translated to English means "Why do you hate me?") mysteriously dissappeared.  Later, I found out she decided Accounting Technician was slightly too ambitious for her, and she signed up for classes to earn a lesser certificate.  It was actually a good move for her, and she will still be taking the weekend classes here at Bakhita.  Last Sunday, Clara Kalolo came to the house to inform us that she was accepted to Mzuzu Universtiy's Science Education program and that she would be leaving immediately.  She is a good student and it is a great opportunity for her so I don't feel too bad about her leaving.  On the other hand, about two months remain in the term and I am down to a single accounting student, Monica.  Thankfully she was one of the better students from the start and has reasonable chance of passing her exams at the end of the year.  She has promised me that she will not be leaving and why should she?  She now has an entire team of personal tutors to help her prepare.