A community school for all (children) in Fiarenana

Mini-workshops were conducted for our teachers and villagers to properly frame the objectives of the Zahana association. These workshops where conduced by Zahana.

For the preparation of the 2023-2024 school year in our Zahana run schools, lists of teaching materials required have been drawn up with the feedback of our teachers and our parents’ associations.  

The CEPE remains a cornerstone in Madagascar’s public schools. CEPE*, or loosely translated the primary school diploma (see website) is culturally very important in Madagascar. The first students from our Zahana schools successfully received their CEPE in 2009. Donné, of the first group of students with the CEPE, supported by Zahana successfully graduated from secondary school and then the agricultural college, receiving the first diploma in his village. Donné is now teaching at our school in Fiadanana and a key home grown agricultural expert. We had reported about the CEPE over the years, before and during the pandemic.

After discussions and considerations, we decided to offer the CEPE as well in our Zahana schools. After consulting the regional department of education, we decided to buy the teaching materials required to offer the CEPE in our Zahana schools once again (including the public school model curriculum.)

In our community wide assessment, it was decided that the vegetable gardens at the school level are very important in the curriculum. At the same time school gardens reinforce the improvement of the nutrition for our schoolchildren as well as teaching them gardening techniques that can improve their future.

*CEPE = The Certificat d'Études Primaires Élémentaires

Links:

• The CEPE once again in our village's schools
• Cause for a celebration: The first school diplomas ever!! 2009
• Brevet d'Etude du Premier Cycle