I heart the Malian Ministry of Education

There are many bad stereotypes about Africa: war, disease, huts, malnutrition, etc. However, some stereotypes even penetrate the development community - who works in Africa. There is a particularl cynicism about government institutions - that they are slow, corrupt, and full of annoying protocol. When I worked on a USAID sponsored girls scholarship program, I harbored some of these feelings. Obligatory trips to the Ministry were full of kowtowing and politesse without being able to discuss any real issues.

However, the Ministry of Education in Mali and the Ed sector more broadly is changing my hardened view. This is partially (ok mainly) because the Min of Ed's statistical department gave me a whole bunch of data (on my flash drive!). Not only that, but they actually put a report together for me. I am not a donor nor US government official. I am a lowly researcher - working in collaboration with another Malian researcher. The data department specialist a I talked to - even worked on a Friday holiday to get this information to me.

Sure you might say. Big deal - Americans work through holidays and weekends all the time to make deadlines. Well - ask yourself this: When is the last time we commuted to work in 100 degree weather every day with no air-conditioning? When is the last time we had to go to 2 baptisms and 1 wedding (and shell out lots of cash in each event) in one weekend? When is the last time that 4 different people stopped by your house asking for some money on your day off? These are all daily battles and experiences for most civil servants in Mali.

I know this isn't an isolated incident of civil servant "rockstarness" because my fellow basketball coach Amadou - works for the Min of Ed as well. He busts his butt every day and then coaches basketball for 3-4 hours. Every day! He works on weekends and holidays and is truly committed to improving the education sector - but also the lives of kids in Mali. The CAPs (Ministry branches in each school district) that I have visited have also been churning away - grading exams, running trainings - it truly seems like an active and committed group.

Mali has jumped from 30% primary school enrollment in 1992 to more than 78% today. While I am currently writing a critique about the quality of education here, that jump in enrollment is no small feat.

I hope all those civil servants - who are kicking ass - get promoted. I hope that someone like Amadou becomes the Minister of Education. In all my pessimism about bad air quality, corrupt police, no traffic laws, begging in the streets, people with diplomas and no job - these all-stars that you encounter now and then give you hope. Sure, there are lots of government institutions that aren't working in Mali and at the highest levels - a lot of political appointees are living large and eating funds. However, some regular everyday people are making a difference and doing it without housing allowances or R and R trips. I think the trick is trying to keep these people motivated and trying to make their work incentivized. For me, development in Africa is all about all-star teams of every day people being given the right opportunities and environments to thrive in.