At the renovated Quranic schools, there is no age limit for learning
Discover how UNICEF uses renovated Quranic schools to improve education for boys and girls
In Bol, a city in the Lac Chad province, the morning atmosphere is a symphony of familiar sounds. Joyful laughter and lively conversations echo in the air as children, with bags on their backs, hurry towards the four classrooms of the renovated Quranic school in Bol.
In the second-grade class, which accommodates 53 students, a full day of lessons can begin. The teacher, 53 years old Ahmat Ali Mahamat, 53 years enters the classroom and quiets the students' chatter. The first topic of the day is Arabic language reading class.
Towards the board steps Achta Mahamat Ali, 18 years old. Achta lives in Bol with her family and is the mother of a one-and-a-half-year-old boy. With a father working as a farmer and a mother engaged in trade, Achta did not have the opportunity to attend school during her childhood. The only education she received was at the Quranic school in Ouadi-Doum 2, her neighborhood.
« We used to study at the Quranic school, but we didn't understand anything. We came here to learn Arabic better. »
It was upon hearing about the renovated Quranic school in Bol from some of her neighbors who were studying there that she decided to talk to her parents about it.
« When I asked my father to enroll me in school, he asked if he would have to pay for it. I replied that the classes were free. He then said, "Go and study, my daughter". »
Achta shares this story with Oumi Maramsa, her childhood friend and neighbor who is 16 years old, and with whom she shares the same desk.
« I enjoy all the subjects. I want to become a teacher. I like everything here »
Despite being the oldest in their classroom, the two girls see their age as a strength.
« There is no age limit for learning. Education is essential because it teaches us to read and write »
says Achta Mahamat, who dreams of becoming a doctor. She never misses a day of school despite her role as a mother, and she has the full support of her husband.
« When I go to school, I leave my child with my mother. In the afternoon, I attend classes at the Quranic school.»
Despite her daily challenges, Achta is determined to continue her education because it holds crucial importance for her.
Ahmat Ali Mahamat, who has been teaching for the third year at the renovated Quranic school in Bol and is one of the teachers trained by UNICEF, feels proud when he sees the determination of his students.
« I love this profession. It takes a lot of patience and courage for the children to learn. »
The renovated Quranic school in Bol primarily welcomes children and youth from traditional Quranic schools in the Lake Chad province who had never been enrolled before. They follow a bilingual and structured curriculum, with trained teachers and classes equipped with teaching materials.
UNICEF, with the generous support of the Muslim World League, has built six classrooms along with separate latrines in the cities of Bol, Bagasola, and Kiskawa in the Lake Chad province. This support has also facilitated the payment of teachers, enhancement of their pedagogical skills, and the distribution of school supplies.
