Improving a primary school in Tannou district, Benin

Thanks to this project, the community with the help of Plan has constructed and equipped a new primary school for over 300 children in Tannou, Benin where children will have access to quality primary education for generations to come.

The contributions of Plan's supporters has ensured that the school has clean water, and that the classrooms and library are fully equipped, so the children can really make the most of their new school.

Children in Benin, West Africa, suffer from a lack of quality education which hinders their chance to fulfil their full potential and help to lift themselves out of poverty. One third of the population lives below the poverty line and the literacy rate is just 38%.

Previously at Tannou Primary School classrooms were built of palm leaves and branches. This meant that they were poorly lit and could not withstand the annual rainy season. Children were therefore unable to attend school for many months of the year, due to the weather conditions. Lack of learning materials such as books and classroom furniture also hampered their chance for a better education.

With no sanitary latrines and no sources of safe drinking water, pupils were exposed to water-borne diseases, such as dysentery, which affects students' attendance rate.

Teachers are often young people from the local communities; they were poorly trained and badly paid with their motivation to deliver quality education seriously undermined.

Parents did not encourage their children to succeed at school; they did not understand the importance of formal education, especially when children are needed at home for the household chores or to help in the fields.

Project Activities

• Construction and equipping of three high quality durable classrooms, office and storage space
• Construction of sanitary latrines
• Provision of a source of potable water
• Construction of a library provided with a range of books and dictionaries
• Training on instructional leadership for the head-teacher
• Training and support for all teachers

The Tannou Primary School project was developed through meetings with parents, teachers, children and other community members, to discuss the school's problems and suggest ways of dealing with them.

Following these meetings, a School Improvement Committee was elected to plan, implement and monitor the project's activities. Children and parents will also be encouraged to participate through a range of training and extra-curricular activities.

This project has now been completed - awaiting the project's final report which will soon be published