Niger launches accelerated education centers for out of school youth

The Ministry of National Education, Literacy and Promotion of Languages in Niger launched a training program for teachers to manage the Harmonized Accelerated Education Device (DEAH) in the Diffa region.

This initiative is part of the Niger-LIRE project, which receives funding from the International Development Association of the World Bank to improve learning for children and address critical learning deficits.

The DEAH program provides a second chance for children and adolescents aged 9 to 16 who are currently outside the formal school system. The program aims to provide intensive learning so that these students can either return to traditional schools or move into vocational training structures. To prepare for the 2026-2027 school year, the ministry is training 133 teachers in the Diffa region to run these centers. The training lasts 12 days and covers 83 hours of instruction.

Nine experienced trainers will teach the session, including five specialists from non-formal education and four from formal education. The project intends to reach more than 85,000 children across the country through a social mobilization strategy to recruit students into the program. The Diffa region plans to host 7,650 learners across 133 centers. These locations include 56 newly established centers and 77 existing ones.