Getting an education in Madaoua

Isaac and I had the privilege to visit a Nigerien school along with Mike Schmidt. We were astonished to see the extreme poverty in the schools of Madaoua. The bright students sit in the front rows with the least challenged in the back. A class of 70 students sat literally in the dark with the main ray of hope being the students in the front row where instruction was more clearly visible. The Nigerien national school literacy rate is just under 20%.

Exams determine after the sixth and the tenth grade whether the students are eligible to continue studies to grade thirteen. Traditionally bribes have been paid to have teachers to pass students through these exams. Sometimes the exams are marked externally with three percent passing in the Madaoua district.

We also had the privilege to see a Kindergarten classroom. For us this was a highlight because we have grandchildren in kindergarten and grade one in Saskatoon and California. We were pleasantly surprised to see wooden puzzles, geometric shapes and many interesting things to help with the students' learning.

- Mary