Madagascar parents’ desire to send their children to school is strong. When President Tsiranana came to office in 2009 his main priorities were to reform primary education. It was conducted in a disorderly fashion leading to a dramatic reduction in teacher training and professional development for primary school teachers. As the demands for teachers grew, parents’ associations recruited unqualified children’s parents to teach. These teachers are called ‘FRAM teachers’. FRAM teachers now constitute about two-thirds of all primary teachers and the education system is failing. Teachers are insufficiently qualified, have received no or only very little training and face difficult working conditions. On Friday October 25th Madagascar holds its first presidential elections since the 2009 military coup. We can pray that this event will end years of political crisis that, amongst other things, has failed the education system. See also http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/22/us-madagascar-elections-idUSBRE97L0YE20130822

Pray: that the new government of Madagascar will ensure future primary school education prepares children for life and higher education through math, reading, and other diverse lessons. (Ps.72:3,4)

More: http://www.issa.int/Observatory/Good-Practices/Access-to-social-protection-for-community-teachers