Coronavirus: in Madagascar, private schools in Tamatave ask for state support

Text by: Laetitia Bezain Follow

In Madagascar, private schools in Tamatave, on the east coast, are appealing for aid to the state. The largest port in the country, this city of 300,000 inhabitants has the highest number of Covid-19 cases. In mid-April, schools were able to reopen their doors in the rest of the island for pupils in the examination class, but in this large port city lessons are completely suspended to avoid the spread of the virus. A situation that is no longer tenable said yesterday, Saturday, directors and teachers of private schools.

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from our correspondent in Antananarivo,

Some 170 directors and teachers of private schools gathered yesterday Saturday in the district of Ampasimazava, in the center of Tamatave to alert the authorities to the consequences of the total cessation of their activity.

“ Since March we have been trying to fight on our own but there we can no longer pay the rents, teachers and social charges, explains Sariaka Ratiarison, one of the representatives and director of a preschool and primary school in the city. Some establishments have already closed. We as directors have been affected by this crisis. We are in debt, even buying food becomes difficult. We are asking for support measures or financial aid for us and for the teachers as well, or other means so that the families who are in charge of education in Madagascar are not left behind. ”

For the time being, the authorities have distributed some food to the teachers. "There is no real help," says Rado, a teacher. There are no courses so no money. Sometimes, at the end of the month, they give a little rice and basic necessities, but that is not enough. It barely lasts a week. "

Private schools play a vital role in the education of the 70,000 pupils of Tamatave since there are 260 private schools against 32 public ones.

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• Coronavirus
• Madagascar
• Education

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