Mali launches 'Return to School' campaign
Updated: 2013-10-22 19:30
(Xinhua)
|
||||||||
BAMAKO - Mali's Prime Minister Oumar Tatam Ly on Monday presided over the launch of the "Return to School" campaign to sensitize over 500,000 pupils and 9,000 teachers to resume normal education after the political conflict.
The campaign launched in the northern town of Timbuktu envisages the return of 300,000 pupils in the south and 200,000 pupils in the north in the next three months.
Mali's Education Minister Jacqueline Marie Nana said the campaign is the first phase of re-educating the children.
She said although the campaign targets children affected by the conflict, it does not ignore the fact that over 1.2 million children in Mali have not yet gained access to education.
The children in schools in Mali's northern region and those living in refugee camps in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mauritania sat a special exam during this month.
Since the start of this new academic year, the Malian government and its partners have intensified their efforts to ensure at least half a million children affected by the political crisis return to class.
Malian authorities have also announced that the mobilization of the necessary academic kits is ongoing across the entire national territory and that temporary classrooms will be set up in schools destroyed during the conflict.
In the refugee camps in the neighboring countries of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mauritania, UNICEF is working with the concerned governments, the World Food Program (WFP), UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and non-governmental partners to ensure Malian children get access to both formal and non-formal education.
Mali plunged in the crisis in March 2012 after a military coup and the occupation of the north by rebels. The situation took a turn for the better in January when Mali backed by its allies restored control. The presidential election in August marked a new era of national reconstruction after the turmoil.
- Beijing Opera troupe perform in Brazil
- Nature's masterpieces
- Riot police off to Libya peacekeeping mission
- Teacher killed, two wounded in Nevada middle school shooting
- Smog wraps northeast, schools forced to close
- Architect looks to the big picture
- Teachers, students divided over Gaokao reform plan
- Dogfight looms over jets
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Bribery claims feed milk scandal |
The fish that didn't get away |
Stranded in heavy snow at Qomolangma |
Riding the wave of big bargain buy-ups |
US Sinophile traces the evolution of Chinese words |
The dirt on tomb raiders |
Today's Top News
China, Russia reach new consensuses
Apple expected to unveil new iPads
US helps UN destroy Syria's chemical weapons
CNOOC, CNPC win Brazil oilfield bid
'Historic' sorghum shipment to China
Building a bridge of hearts in the heartland of the US
China issues white paper on Tibet's development
Hollywood must think bigger about China
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |