Huh? Oh yeah, it’s today, September 1st. And it’s going to be the princess’s first day of school, waaaa… Como pasa el tiempo eh? 🤣

And yes, school is compulsory from the age of 3, here in civilization.

Just so we don’t mass-produce future Bado and Vendrana citizens, surely? That we can lure with lainga, as a funny video I just watched would say? Aza jonoina @ lainga in the original version.

We’re often tempted to compare life in Madagascar with that of another country in the world, using comparisons in terms of salaries, minimum wage, purchasing power, health, safety, and all that jazz.

But I’ll tell you why most mothers living abroad will never return to live in Madagascar: simply for their children’s education.

Between an endemic school and university system that’s less and less recognized anywhere, or foreign language teaching systems (American, French, etc.) that cost an arm and a leg, the choice is slim 🤣

Here in France, well, public school is free. So everyone has a chance since everyone starts from the same starting blocks.

Of course, critics will still say that there’s better than France, but that’s not the point at all. The point is that there’s worse than France, especially. Much worse 🤣

No, but seriously, Fram teachers, what? Schools without desks, benches… or worse, without walls… or even roofs? And with at least 700,000 new births every year? Forget it.

Dans les années 80 j’étais au SFF

In my time, I was lucky enough, and I thank my parents for it, to have been able to attend the Collèges de France, the EPF (French National Institute of Public Health) and other French high schools. Today, I look at the tuition fees in amazement… up to 20 million ARS a year for some children, waaaa 😳

Whereas here in France, once again, it’s completely free. Of course, it’s not completely free since there will always be extra things and gadgets to pay for, but basically, public school is free, there are no registration fees.

And free doesn’t mean cheap, of course. The annual budget for National Education in France? Around €64 billion. Even if things are a bit of a crisis right now, the educational fundamentals will remain.

These first three years, I tried to instill certain concepts in the princess: constant curiosity, learning new things, reading… in short, a thirst for learning again and again. But never in a forced way, always, if possible, in a fun way.

I think I’ve planted the right seeds; now it’s up to the National Education system to take over. But of course, I’ll always keep an eye out to make sure everything goes well.

Once again, education is the best weapon to fight those who shamelessly exploit poverty for base populist and electoral purposes. And who have nothing else to do to stay in power at all costs.

And how can you build a state worthy of the name if your population is made up only of ignorant people? Well, no, there is no state, there are no citizens, there is no water, there is no electricity, there is no wealth created.

Io izy io, you’re right in the middle of it right now. And mothers, I’m telling you, you’re not ready to go back to Madagougou anytime soon.