Evaluation of Save the Children's community school project in Kolondieba, Mali

Save the Children/Mali's community school project is one example of this approach, making use of local school management, local villagers with limited to no formal schooling as (low-paid) teachers, local language instruction, parity in girls recruitment, and other innovations. Learning levels of community school students matches those of students in government schools in arithmetic and exceeds them in reading and writing (of the local language). Classroom management and enrollment and retention also seem better. Although not high, the level of community school committee and parental involvement is notably greater than in government schools. Despite these favorable results, it is doubtful that students completing a six-year community school cycle will be prepared to enter the government formal school track, which is taught in French. The community school teachers are incapable of bringing their students' French ability to a suitable level, due to their own poor mastery of the language. This and other issues, notably, teachers' remuneration, school committees' abilities, and the role of government school authorities and technicians must be resolved before the model can be replicated on a massive scale and long-term sustainability can be ensured. (Author abstract)