Visual studies of community schools in an inner suburb of Bamako, Mali

Abstract

This chapter presents and analyzes the condition of existence of the community schools in a specific quarter of Bamako called Sabalibougou considered as an inner suburb. Based on data collected through extensive fieldwork, carried out among the local community with and without camera, this chapter, consisting of both text and film analyses, tries to examine the difficulties faced by the community schools of Sabalibougou. These community schools are compared to other school communities across Mali and in the surrounding region. Life in Sabalibougou is a challenge, and the education of people living there in extreme poverty throughout community school becomes problematic for children’s parents and the schools’ managers. The relationship between schools’ managers and the local populations who are their owners and immediate customers suffers from miscommunication and misunderstandings; thus, the community schools are trapped in a cycle of problems. This chapter discusses the challenges of maintaining Sabalibougou schools and similar areas in Francophone West Africa that face similar challenges.