[Intro music]
Interviewee Amina:
A lack of infrastructure is not just an inconvenience but a huge barrier to the education system.
[Music]
Ciara:
Mali is a country with many challenges, and one of the biggest is its infrastructure. We’re talking
about things like roads, electricity, water systems, and buildings but mostly things like proper
school facilities.
Voice acted by Cynthia Wright, Amina, a teacher who’s been working in Mali for over 10 years
has experienced this firsthand.
Interviewee Amina:
I’ve spent most of my life working in schools in rural Mali and I’ve seen the situation up close.
Mali is a beautiful country but the infrastructure here is a huge challenge. And when it comes to
education, that challenge becomes even more severe. I’ve worked in schools where there are
no proper buildings, no access to clean water, and where students have to learn in classrooms
that are barely more than open spaces under a tree.
[Music/kid chattering]
Ciara:
Classrooms in Mali, especially in rural or underserved areas often face major challenges related
to poor infrastructure which affects both the learning environment and the overall educational
experience. Research shows that in 2022, 519,000 children were out of school across Mali due
to school funding and armed group threats and attacks. In 2022, the number of children
dropping out of school in the country has increased by 15 per cent, according to the Norwegian
Refugee Council.
Interviewee Amina:
I’ve seen classrooms with broken walls, no desks, and no teaching materials. In some places,
the roof of the classroom is missing entirely and the children still come to school every day
hoping that they can still learn something. But it’s incredibly difficult to teach in those conditions.
Ciara:
Many schools in Mali have classrooms that are made with basic materials like mud bricks, clay,
or bamboo. These buildings often lack proper ventilation and can get very hot during dry
seasons which makes it difficult for both teachers and students to concentrate.
There is also a shortage of textbooks and other learning materials. In some cases students
share textbooks or may not have any at all. This shortage makes it difficult for students to fully
engage with the curriculum and also limits their ability to learn independently.
Interviewee Amina:
The lack of basic facilities like a solid roof or proper walls means that the classrooms are often
too hot in the dry season or too cold when the rains come. There’s no ventilation, and the
classrooms can become unbearable, especially with large groups of students. I remember days
when I would be teaching, and the children were so uncomfortable, they could hardly focus.
And when it comes to basic things like textbooks and supplies. I often have to teach without
textbooks because there are just not enough to go around. Students can’t take notes because
they don’t have notebooks or pens. And as a teacher, you end up trying to make up for the lack
of resources by using whatever you can find chalk, old paper, anything to try to make the
lessons more engaging. But it’s not easy.
Ciara:
Having these poor conditions of school buildings and the lack of proper facilities can lead to
inconsistent attendance within students. According to UNICEF, education in Mali has been
improving over the last decade but more than two million children aged between 5 to 17 still do
not go to school, and over half of Mali’s young people aged 15 to 24 are not literate. These
students may end up staying home due to uncomfortable or unsafe learning environments or
because they have to help with household chores or farming.
Not to mention, the lack of basic sanitation facilities like clean water and functional toilets can
lead to health issues, mostly to younger students. This can lead to absenteeism and negative
affects on academic performance.
And even teachers often have to work under difficult conditions with inadequate training, low
salaries, and limited resources. They may also face challenges such as a lack of teaching aids
and large class sizes which can mess with their ability to deliver effective lessons.
Interviewee Amina:
It’s truly heartbreaking, honestly. I’ve seen kids who have to walk for hours just to reach school,
often in the scorching sun or through muddy roads during the rainy season. They’re already
exhausted by the time they arrive and it’s difficult for them to focus. I remember one student, a
little girl, who would walk over 10 kilometers each day to attend school. She would get there,
exhausted and hungry and still do her best to learn. But when the classroom itself is not
conducive to learning, and when you can’t hear the lesson properly because of the noise from
the outside or the heat becomes unbearable then there's literally no surprise that some kids
eventually drop out.
Some children stay home all together because their parents see no point in sending them to
school if the conditions are so poor. They would rather keep them at home to help with chores
or farming. It’s a difficult situation because education is seen as the way out of poverty, but how
can you succeed when the basic infrastructure isn’t there to support it?
Ciara:
Multiple international organizations are working in Mali to improve the education system by
providing resources, building better classrooms, and offering teacher training. However the
challenges of widespread poverty, political instability, and inadequate government funding make
these interventions slow and pretty uneven. According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, in
2020, the Malian state budget for education amounted to USD 637.3 million. There was a start
but only 13% of the national budget was allocated to the construction of classrooms and 4.8% to
the acquisition of teaching materials.
[Music]
Ciara:
Some schools have embraced community based solutions where there's local families and
communities that contribute to building and maintaining school infrastructure. This might involve
using local materials, volunteer labor, or raising funds to improve the school's condition.
In urban areas and more developed regions, there are schools that are better equipped with
modern buildings, access to electricity, and more learning resources. However these are the
exceptions rather than the rules and many children still attend schools with subpar conditions.
Interviewee Amina:
There are some efforts but the progress is slow. The government has tried to invest in
education, and there are some international organizations like UNICEF for example, and they
are working to improve infrastructure. I’ve seen new schools being built, but they are often few
and far between and many of them are located in urban areas. For the rural schools, where
most of the population lives, the improvements are minimal.
One of the problems is funding. Even when new schools are built, there’s not enough money to
maintain them properly. So while we might have a shiny new building, it’s often just a shell
because there’s no furniture, no books, and no real resources to make it functional.
And when we do get support, it’s often in the form of temporary solutions, like mobile schools or
tents set up as classrooms. These help in the short term, but they don’t provide a permanent
solution. We need proper, long-term infrastructure development.
Ciara:
Despite the challenges posed by poor infrastructure in Mali, the resilience and determination of
the people in the educational sector have allowed them to keep pushing through. As the
younger generation becomes more educated, they are increasingly advocating for better
infrastructure and educational reforms. This awareness among youth and local leaders fuels
hope for change by driving the belief that progress is possible despite these current challenges.
Interviewee Amina:
There are days when I feel like I’m fighting an uphill battle. But I always remind myself of the
kids. Despite all the hardships, the children still show up every day, eager to learn. Their
resilience is incredible. They have so much potential, and I see the spark in their eyes when
they understand something I’ve taught them.
What keeps me going is knowing that education is one of the few ways to break the cycle of
poverty. Even though the infrastructure isn’t where it needs to be, I believe that the education we
can provide, no matter how limited, can still make a difference in their lives. That’s why I
continue to push forward, even when it’s hard.
[Music]
Ciara:
The government and families in Mali play an important role in overcoming the challenges of the
educational system. Community driven initiatives, financial contributions, and cultural values of
education helps to keep these schools open and functioning despite the many obstacles. But
the limitations of these efforts are due to poverty, inconsistent resources, and the pressures of
other daily needs which mean that further systemic support from the government and
international organizations is important to ensure sustainable improvements. The community’s
resilience mixed with external support holds the key to overcoming the infrastructural challenges
and improving education outcomes for all children in Mali.
Interviewee Amina:
On a larger scale, we need a comprehensive approach like one that addresses not only the
buildings but the entire education system. We need better roads to connect rural areas to the
cities, reliable electricity for schools, and proper facilities like clean water and sanitation. We
need to ensure that teachers are properly trained, supported, and paid.
And most importantly, there needs to be a long term commitment from both the Malian
government and international organizations to fund education and infrastructure projects
consistently. It’s not just about building ne8w schools, it’s also about ensuring that they are
maintained, that resources are provided, and that the community is involved in the process.
Ciara:
To overall improve Mali's poor infrastructure then a comprehensive and sustained approach is
needed, combining government action, community involvement, and international support. The
government must prioritize education and infrastructure investment, allocating funds for building
and maintaining schools, providing proper sanitation facilities, and ensuring reliable electricity
and water access. Communities should also be empowered to take part in local decision making
with resources directed towards sustainable solutions such as locally built classrooms and
volunteer driven programs.
[Music]
International organizations can provide technical assistance, funding, and resources to
complement national efforts. Plus investing in teacher training, distributing learning materials,
and addressing gender disparities are needed to ensure that the infrastructure supports a high
quality and inclusive education system that benefits all students.
Interviewee Amina:
Truly, if we can create the right environment for learning then these children can thrive. And not
only that, but Mali as a whole can begin to move forward, break the cycle of poverty, and build a
stronger future.
Ciara:
This podcast was produced by Ciara Mickens for the Spring 2025 Global Health Course at
Guilford College.
[Outro music]