Niger trains teachers to reach children outside the formal school system

320 teachers in the Tillabéri region of Niger are participating in a training session at the École normale d’instituteurs de Tillabéri to implement a harmonized alternative education system.

The training, which runs from November 1 to November 12, 2026, is funded by the International Development Association of the World Bank Group through the Niger LIRE Project. The program prepares educators to work with children aged 9 to 16 who are currently out of school or left the system early.

This new framework combines three previous educational models into a single pedagogical structure. It uses multi-grade classes divided into three learning levels based on a child's actual knowledge rather than their age. These levels include children who have never attended school, those who left early, and those with more advanced knowledge who can follow the primary school curriculum. The goal of this initiative is to provide a flexible path for children to eventually rejoin standard education or vocational training.

Students who meet the required levels can sit for a primary school certificate and move to middle school. Those who are too old for the standard system can be directed toward vocational training centers or life skills workshops. Local actors will also conduct a census in villages to identify children living on the streets or facing other forms of exclusion to ensure they receive an opportunity to learn.