Interview with Mr Ralay, headmaster at the teacher training college SFM

February 24^th we interviewed Mr Ralay, headmaster at the teacher training college, Sekoly Fanomanana Mpampianatra (SFM) in  Fandriana, Madagascar. He said the following about literature in schools:

Literature should be in a language that the children understand, otherwise it will a punishment for them. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Madagascar. Most literature is in French, if there are any books in the schools at all.

Schools usually do not have libraries, and if they own one, the books are all in French. Literature is not used in teaching at all, and the teachers do not know how to handle literature. They may be aware that children need fairytales, but they do not have sense for literature. Telling fairytales is the grandmother’s job.

To change the mother tongue teaching in schools in Madagascar is very difficult, but it is one of the most important tasks in society. It is the basis for development.