The schools are scattered very unevenly across the country and many children have to walk long distances to go to school, especially in the savannahs, which leads to absences and pupils dropping out.
The distribution of teachers amongst the pupils is very poor too: there is 1 teacher for every 100 pupils in the first year of primary school and 1 for every 10 in the final year, the majority of pupils do not know how to read, write or add after many years of schooling. Only 2,2% reach CEPD without repeating a year. The programmes are heavy, inflexible, the content is mostly unsuitable and when the pupils finish school they do not possess the skills necesary to find employment.
Despite a negative image of school, the lack of opportunities, financial difficulties and the poor sanitary state of the children - 90% of whom are infected by parasites - the parents realise the importance of schoolling and are therefore very receptive to the work of the schools.
