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Mali back-to-school campaign faces uphill struggle Mali back-to-school campaign faces uphill struggle
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Mali has launched itself on the path of postwar recovery with an ambitious back-to-school campaign aimed at 500,000 children whose education was prevented or disrupted by the jihadist and secessionist occupation of the north of the country.Mali has launched itself on the path of postwar recovery with an ambitious back-to-school campaign aimed at 500,000 children whose education was prevented or disrupted by the jihadist and secessionist occupation of the north of the country.
But even as the UN children's fund, Unicef, called for donations to the $9.1m (£5.7m) campaign, Mali's new education minister admitted that many teachers still have not returned to the north due to lingering security concerns. In the south, several schools that are due to open on 1 October are occupied by people who lost their homes in flooding that claimed 56 lives last month.But even as the UN children's fund, Unicef, called for donations to the $9.1m (£5.7m) campaign, Mali's new education minister admitted that many teachers still have not returned to the north due to lingering security concerns. In the south, several schools that are due to open on 1 October are occupied by people who lost their homes in flooding that claimed 56 lives last month.
The campaign, dubbed "Peace is back, school is back'', is essentially a damage-limitation effort in a country where education is so dire that, according to national statistics, only 33% of adults can read. Classrooms typically have between 80 and 100 pupils. Even before the war, Unicef estimated in 2011 that 1.2 million children – out of 6 million under-18s – were out of school.The campaign, dubbed "Peace is back, school is back'', is essentially a damage-limitation effort in a country where education is so dire that, according to national statistics, only 33% of adults can read. Classrooms typically have between 80 and 100 pupils. Even before the war, Unicef estimated in 2011 that 1.2 million children – out of 6 million under-18s – were out of school.
Schools dispensing "western-style'' education – as opposed to Qur'anic institutions – became prime targets for attack when groups linked to al-Qaida took advantage of a military coup on 22 March 2012 to occupy the north. In cities and towns like Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu, books were burned, school furniture removed and classrooms smashed up. Teachers, seen as representatives of the Malian state, fled southwards for their lives, along with mayors, regional officials, medical staff, police, soldiers and hundreds of thousands of ordinary people.Schools dispensing "western-style'' education – as opposed to Qur'anic institutions – became prime targets for attack when groups linked to al-Qaida took advantage of a military coup on 22 March 2012 to occupy the north. In cities and towns like Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu, books were burned, school furniture removed and classrooms smashed up. Teachers, seen as representatives of the Malian state, fled southwards for their lives, along with mayors, regional officials, medical staff, police, soldiers and hundreds of thousands of ordinary people.
In January 2013, France sent 4,500 troops; 3,200 are still in northern Mali. They were supported by African troops and, in July, the UN began deploying a stabilisation force, Minusma, which is expected to grow to 12,200 police and troops. In August, in a hastily organised election, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta came to power and in the past week his 34-strong cabinet, including education minister Jacqueline Togola, has begun work.In January 2013, France sent 4,500 troops; 3,200 are still in northern Mali. They were supported by African troops and, in July, the UN began deploying a stabilisation force, Minusma, which is expected to grow to 12,200 police and troops. In August, in a hastily organised election, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta came to power and in the past week his 34-strong cabinet, including education minister Jacqueline Togola, has begun work.
But more than 500,000 people remain displaced or in refugee camps in neighbouring countries. On Thursday, soldiers from Mali's army clashed with Tuareg separatist rebels near the Mauritanian border – the latest signal to many Malians that the north is still not safe.But more than 500,000 people remain displaced or in refugee camps in neighbouring countries. On Thursday, soldiers from Mali's army clashed with Tuareg separatist rebels near the Mauritanian border – the latest signal to many Malians that the north is still not safe.
At a breakfast meeting with ambassadors in Bamako on Friday, Togola, a former communications executive in her first day in her new post, said: "In the south we still have not found a solution for the people occupying classrooms as a result of the August floods. In the north, we need teachers. We need desks, chairs and some schools need to be rebuilt. That is why I want to tell donors that we need all the help we can get.''At a breakfast meeting with ambassadors in Bamako on Friday, Togola, a former communications executive in her first day in her new post, said: "In the south we still have not found a solution for the people occupying classrooms as a result of the August floods. In the north, we need teachers. We need desks, chairs and some schools need to be rebuilt. That is why I want to tell donors that we need all the help we can get.''
According to the education ministry, 1,400 displaced teachers – out of 2,500 – have returned to the north thanks to a grant of $500 per teacher, provided by the European Union. Even if all of them go back, there will still be 2,500 teacher vacancies in northern Mali.According to the education ministry, 1,400 displaced teachers – out of 2,500 – have returned to the north thanks to a grant of $500 per teacher, provided by the European Union. Even if all of them go back, there will still be 2,500 teacher vacancies in northern Mali.
Unicef country representative Françoise Ackermans said the agency had begun providing top-up training for 9,000 existing teachers nationwide. "We have to help the teachers deal with psycho-social trauma for themselves and for the children. We have to make sure also that they are equipped to talk about mine risk education, especially in the north. We have to ensure also that peace and reconciliation is a subject that will be discussed in class.''Unicef country representative Françoise Ackermans said the agency had begun providing top-up training for 9,000 existing teachers nationwide. "We have to help the teachers deal with psycho-social trauma for themselves and for the children. We have to make sure also that they are equipped to talk about mine risk education, especially in the north. We have to ensure also that peace and reconciliation is a subject that will be discussed in class.''
The back-to-school initiative includes the provision of textbooks – at a rate of three books for two pupils – as well as stationery, sport and early-learning kits, teachers' manuals, blackboards and chalk. The majority of the urgently needed school desks are being ordered from South Africa but to support the economies of Gao and Timbuktu, local carpenters will supply 20% of them.The back-to-school initiative includes the provision of textbooks – at a rate of three books for two pupils – as well as stationery, sport and early-learning kits, teachers' manuals, blackboards and chalk. The majority of the urgently needed school desks are being ordered from South Africa but to support the economies of Gao and Timbuktu, local carpenters will supply 20% of them.
Mali, which is ranked 182 out of 186 countries on the UN human development index, has a history of bad governance and corruption during years as a recipient of billions of dollars of aid that seem to have disappeared into the Sahelian sand. But Togola said things will be different this time. "This new government has been instructed by the authorities – by the president of the republic – to cultivate transparency in all we do. And I think that is the direction we are going to take.''Mali, which is ranked 182 out of 186 countries on the UN human development index, has a history of bad governance and corruption during years as a recipient of billions of dollars of aid that seem to have disappeared into the Sahelian sand. But Togola said things will be different this time. "This new government has been instructed by the authorities – by the president of the republic – to cultivate transparency in all we do. And I think that is the direction we are going to take.''
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