* Guinea townships take extra steps to make sure their children receive a quality education
* 12 Feb 2007

In the past 5 years, the number of Guinean girls going to school has increased dramatically thanks to a combined effort by local and national governments and development partners.

At this nursery school in Forécariah, students enjoy learning in an environment that is supported by the whole community fruit.

SOUNDBITE (Soussou) Mame Touré, cooperative group chief: “When the end of the month arrives; the cooperative group pays the teacher's salary. We want our children to have a good future.

More than 30 girls and 20 boys are being taught here. Their teacher hopes the girls especially will do well.

SOUNDBITE (French) Aminata Camara, instructor: “It is men who lead the country but I wish that a day, a girl also manages the country.”

The people of Moribayah mobilized themselves in the same way to build this so called ‘warehouse school’; the state sent a teacher and UNICEF provided supplies.

SOUNDBITE (French) Abdul Camara, Teacher: “The parents mobilized themselves to make that hangar. They shared the same will and brought their contribution to send these children at school.”

This women work on farms to earn enough money to make the school building more durable. Their aim is to build a concrete school that will be impervious to the heavy rains of the wet season.

SOUNDBITE (Soussou) Fatoumata Conte, Cooperative member: “We do this work, it is hard, but we don’t know any other way else to get money.” Here in Daara, durable schools are already a reality.

The Guinean government supported the building of the school on the condition that at least 50 percent of the students were girls.

SOUNDBITE (Soussou ) M ' Mah Touré, Spokesman of the cooperative group: “We’re very grateful. Before, we lacked means, but we finally have been helped to build this school.”

Thanks to a successful partnership with UNICEF, girls and boys are no equal in Daara, claiming their right to a quality education