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Elementary School, Bandiagara, Mali, June 1998 Photo ©1998 by L. Lee McIntyre |
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Elementary School, Bandiagara, Mali, June 1998 Photo ©1998 by L. Lee McIntyre |
Bandiagara was the old administrative center of the region that includes the Dogon cliffs during the colonial period from 1897 to 1958. It remains the capital of the region, and so has schools like this one that are attended by children who may travel considerable distances from home villages to attend. The Malian government has been, in recent years, introducing instruction in the local languages for the first few years of education. The language of instruction gradual switched to French as children become older. This means younger students are able to progress more rapidly because they start by learning in their own langauges.