Summary

There is a great need for resources at all levels of the Malagasy education system. In both urban and rural areas the majority of the population has little or no access to even basic levels of formal education, and the Anosy region where Azafady works has one of highest illiteracy rates (80%) in the country. Until recently Azafady had concentrated on addressing this situation through school building activities, however another urgent priority is the provision of classroom furniture.

Under the current educational system those who do not pass their end of year exams twice in a row (exceptionally difficult given overcrowding and lack of adequate facilities) are expelled from school, leaving them no educational option other than private fee-paying schools, far beyond the capacity of most families. There is therefore a vital need for improvements to the quality of education and learning environment available in under-resourced public schools in the region. Class sizes are extremely large but schools often have only sufficient furniture for a fraction of their students, severely hindering the children's ability to learn.

Following requests for assistance from numerous under-equipped public schools and from the Regional Ministry of Education, Azafady is providing desks and benches to priority schools through Project Fanaka. This initiative is expected to increase rates of student attendance while simultaneously improving the learning conditions and enhancing the higher educational prospects of children in Fort Dauphin.

Project Aim

To improve the quality of formal education for children in the urban commune of Fort Dauphin in order to alleviate poverty and build community capacity in the Anosy region.

Principal Activities

Classroom furniture construction
Azafady's construction team are responsible for building the simple bench / desk units using locally available pinewood, a widely used and sustainable source of timber in this region. Each bench / desk unit is 1.5 meters long and 65 cm wide, and can seat 3 children. Azafady's international ‘Pioneer’ volunteers often assist with these construction activities.

Hand over to priority schools
The classroom furniture is then handed over to priority schools in Fort Dauphin urban commune, as identified by the Regional Ministry of Education.