For a child, a teacher is so much more than someone at the front of the classroom. They build confidence, encourage curiosity and help a child see a future full of endless possibilities. Yet in rural Madagascar, many teachers work without the training or support they need to do this.

In some districts of Anosy, southeast Madagascar, fewer than 3% of teachers hold a formal teaching diploma. On top of this, French is used in the national curriculum, while only around 20% of the population speaks it fluently. As teachers and students speak Malagasy as their first language, lessons have to be translated as they are taught, making it harder for teachers to teach and for children to learn. 

Supporting these teachers is at the heart of Project Masoandro. Through the project, SEED Madagascar is working with the Ministry of Education to support 37 teachers across five rural primary schools. Teachers receive training in the national curriculum, lesson planning, French language teaching, classroom management and other practical skills.

Together, these teachers support more than 1,700 children in remote communities across southeast Madagascar.