Help 80 Secondary Pupils in Niger Read and Write

We are facing a great challenge. Niger is the least-developed country in the world: ranked 189th out of 189 countries according to the 2019 U.N. Human Development Index.

Solutions for Equal Opportunities and Hope This is why our non-profit « les Amis de Hampaté Bâ » has been endeavoring over the past 10 years to address one of the main development issues : Education.  One solution we found to improve the quality of education and to help reduce the dropout rate of underprivileged pupils with literary and numeracy deficiencies at Hampaté Bâ Secondary School, was to implement an extensive tutoring program.  

In the process, we have worked on gender equality issues, and have empowered girls to transition into the education system to complete their schooling and delay marriage by funding a certain number of scholarships.  Our hope was that quality education would turn struggling students, especially girls, into confident, above average achievers.

Going a few steps further and picking up speed

We have always had tutoring programs in place over the last 10 years, but results were not always measurable and evident and students were not convinced. Little by little our remediation programs have gathered momentum and picked up speed and have finally given very satisfactory results, motivating both students and teachers. Now thanks to a generous one-year grant from the FAWCO Foundation, we have been given the opportunity to go even further in our tutoring efforts to improve this exceptional program.

So what’s new?

The new tutoring program is very exciting for both teachers and students. Here are some of the main improvements:

• The afterschool courses for last year (Terminale) students in High School have started earlier in the year, gaining about 4 months, and  visibly already positively affecting learning outcomes .

• The number of hours of tutoring for diploma classes (BEPC and BAC) has been significantly increased. The BEPC candidates have classes after school 3 days a week and the BAC candidates have after school classes 6 days a week (2 hours per session)

• For the first time, tutoring is being given to students in 6th grade, so that the basics can be established and solid from the beginning, starting from the roots. Even though the first year students in Middle School were chosen as the best of those who applied, they were still very weak in both reading, writing and math skills when they entered Hampate Ba School in October. Some of them were barely able to write their name.

• Meetings have been set up with the parents of students in 6th grade, 9th grade and last year of high school to make them aware that their children will need time to study and should not be overloaded with household chores.  Most of these parents are illiterate and cannot help the students with homework. They have all agreed to help out by doing more household chores themselves and therefore relieving their children of these time-consuming tasks to give them a better chance to succeed.

• An evaluation of each student was made from outside sources to assess objectively the level of students in the diploma classes, and to detect any difficulties at an early stage.

• A roll call has been enforced by all tutors, so as to closely follow attendance of the students. Experience has proved that good attendance makes for better progress and results. 

A spontaneous interview with some Middle School scholarship students about their math tutoring classes : They are enthusiastic « fans » !

All the girls agree that the tutoring classes allow them to understand and discover hidden details. They all talked about how important it is for them to follow these classes in small groups. They are all joyful to have this opportunity and are motivated to regularly attend these afterschool classes which give them self-confidence and pride in getting better grades !

Charifou: «  These tutoring classes allow me to progress in Maths and in Physics. I can ask questions about things that I didn’t exactly understand in my daily classes at school. I am really proud because my tutoring class last Thursday helped me gain 2 points more on my recent physics exam. »

Samira: « I like the tutoring sessions because I have a deeper understanding of the exercises and that way I am ready at all times for the weekly exams and final tests. »

Saadia: « For me, it’s a chance to ask questions about applications and do examples of exercises that I didn’t really understand in my school class. If there are things that remain cloudy for me in class, I know I can ask my tutor after school to re-explain so that I can understand better.  I love my tutoring classes !« 

And what does the Math tutor have to say?

For Mr Gogo, who gives tutoring sessions in Math and Physics to middle school scholarship girls, the remediation classes have proven successful, given the good results obtained, which are improving year after year. 

«  If we take the 9th grade class preparing the BEPC as an example, each year the students following remediation classes have a much higher percentage of success passing this exam, than the students who don’t come to tutoring. If we talk about the classes in between the diploma classes, all the students following my tutoring classes pass into the next grade and are among the most brilliant students in their class », remarks Mr. Gogo with pride. 

He continues: « In view of the small number of students per tutoring class, these students are really happy to work together, spurred on by the competitive spirit between them. 

I have not been disappointed about following my students year by year, as I have been able to observe that these students deserve these remediation classes and work hard to increase their level. »

Mr. Gogo draws the conclusion that “ in every enterprise, follow-up is important to get better results “.

We are very grateful to be able to offer this improved tutoring program to deserving underprivileged students in Niger this year, giving them equal opportunities to succeed in their exams, get their diplomas, and find employment.  We are convinced that these classes are key in preparing them for careers of their choice and a brighter future.

We need your donations to continue this remarkable program in the future and help us continue to make a difference in our students’ lives. 

We so appreciate your support. Thank you!!