Current State of Education in Mali

• Only 44 percent of children complete primary cycle (grade 6).
• Nearly a million children aged 7 to 12 do not have the opportunity to go to school.
• One in twelve schools either have no classrooms or just one classroom.
• Only half of the schools in Mali have latrines, and only 14 percent have separate latrines for girls.
• Only a fourth of the adult population is literate.

Obstacles to Education in Rural Mali

• Seven out of ten Malian live in the rural areas.
• Almost two-thirds of the 11,700 rural villages in Mali do not have a primary school.
• Cost of schooling is too high for parents.
• Schools are too far away – danger from animals, hunger, girls are also vulnerable to harassment.
• Schools are characterized by crowded classrooms, shortages of qualified teachers and lack of resources and infrastructure.
• Average teacher to pupil ratio is 1 teacher for 180 students.

Why Education Matters

• In Africa, one additional year of schooling leads to an increase of 8-20% in earnings.
• One additional year of schooling in Africa is associated with a 5-10% reduction in child mortality.
• Education is critical to community development and economic growth.
• Education is key to increasing incomes and reducing poverty.
• Education improves farmer productivity.
• Education is linked to better child health and well-being.
• Education improves farmer productivity.
• People with schooling are more likely to adopt new technologies and practices.