Blog
Principals in Mali have a hard job and they are often literally hours away from any peers. These principals face struggles with students, parents, and bureaucracy and can often feel quite alone. The principals at the 28 Mali Rising partner schools are no exception.
That’s why a few years ago we established the Principals’ WhatsApp group. This group uses a tool nearly everyone in Mali uses, WhatsApp, to allow our principals to know each other and share useful information and experiences.
Being a middle school principal is a hard job no matter where you are. But being one in Mali is particularly tough! Mali Rising principals are in remote places, far from their families or professional support. They manage young teachers and parents who are often unfamiliar with the education system. Many have classes with 100+ students in them. Sometimes, a principal needs a little support and maybe just a little fun when they face this reality day to day!
A Mali Rising donor wanted to find a way to give just that to our principals this year — an experience that would make them feel like someone saw just how hard they worked. So with that donor’s support we set up a year-end party for the principals. We gathered 19 principals at a national park outside of Bamako for a day of relaxing, good food, games, and awards. Read on to hear what one principal thought of the experience…
We want our teachers to get to know each other, so they can help each other and work together. to help with these connections, Mali Rising Foundation recently organized a soccer tournament for the teachers of our eight schools in the Baguineda area. Thirty-two teachers came together for some fun and bonding at the tournament.
Each year Mali Rising honors three of our most outstanding teachers with an award. They are nominated by their principals, and a panel of teachers selects the best candidates for each award — most outstanding, most helpful, and most improved. Last month I was happy to deliver the award for Most Outstanding Teacher to a a very hard-working teacher, Mr. Chaka Diarra.
In the remote areas where Mali Rising’s schools are located, teachers often get together to chat and gather to drink tea. Teaching requires a deeply dedicated person, so it makes sense that teachers always try to improve themselves through reading textbooks, travelling, and discussing techniques with their peers. Building on this cultural idea, Mali Rising regularly hosts Teacher Peer Meetings where we gather 5 to 6 teachers from different Mali Rising schools. The goals are to help our teachers improve their teaching skills and to connect them with peers who can help support them throughout the tough school year.
Mr. Luck Kamaté has been teaching at Sue Taylor middle school of Diorila for seven years. He teaches French, history, geography and English. In addition to all of these subjects, he also serves as the school principal. Because of a teacher shortage in Mali, all too often our hard-working teachers also have to serve the administrative role of principal – that makes for a lot of work!
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