Despite ambitious plans to develop education in the country, the government of Niger has very few resources to meet its commitments. Since 2001 however, Oxfam and its local partners¹ have been working with the government to improve the quality and availability of education in rural areas. Following successful pilots, this project will establish model schools, train teachers and work with 'animatrices' (female community facilitators) in communities in the north-west region of Tillabery, to demonstrate how nationwide changes can happen. We will also train communities, civil organisations and authorities to help make more resources available to education and ensure that the impacts are sustained in the long term.

Project aims

• Increase school attendance and reduce drop-out rates, especially for girls, by building classrooms; providing learning materials for children; and working with communities to encourage girls' education.
• Enhance the quality of education through training teachers and supporting their development.
• Improve children's health by providing sanitation and hygiene facilities and training.
• Support communities to lobby for improvements to education.

¹ Timidria, Association pour un Développement Durable (ADD), Volontaires pour l'Intégration Educative (VIE) and Coordination Nationale des Associations, Syndicats et ONGs pour la campagne Education Pour Tous (ASO-EPT).

Balkissa Tahirou has been an animatrice in Koffouno village since 2001. Her role is to promote education locally. Before the start of every school year, she visits families to convince them to enroll their children. She also promotes the importance of education at community events and celebrations.

She remembers when the first brick-built classroom was opened, which was built with Oxfam support: "It was a day for history. This has been a massive change for the better. At last our children can move out of huts into proper classrooms. They will be able to study much better. For us, this really means that the school is there to stay."

Download the full Niger education project details (852KB PDF)

Companies:

Kimberly Haynes - khaynes@oxfam.org.uk
01865 472431

If you're based in Scotland:

Annie Lewis - alewis@oxfam.org.uk
0141 285 8873