Mali: Over 2,400 Schools Stay Closed as New Year Begins
By News

Mali’s 2026 to 2027 school year opened on 1 October with more than 2,400 schools still closed because of insecurity, leaving hundreds of thousands of children unable to attend classes normally. The figures, drawn from Mali’s education authorities and the country’s Education Cluster, show the number of closures reaching its highest level since tracking began. For education, protection and humanitarian organisations, the data underline how conflict across central and northern Mali continues to erode access to basic services.

The scale of the closures

According to Afrik.com, citing Education Cluster data published on 24 June 2026 by the Ministry of Education, UNICEF and Save the Children, more than 2,400 of Mali’s 11,860 schools were closed, affecting around 733,000 children and roughly 14,700 teachers. That means more than one in five schools in the country cannot function. Africanews, also reporting on 1 October, confirmed that more than 2,400 schools were unable to reopen for the new year and noted that closures have risen steadily in recent years as violence has spread to more regions.

The figures show a clear upward trend. Afrik.com reports that this is the highest number of closures since tracking began, compared with 2,036 schools closed in June 2025. The impact is uneven: in Kidal, 84% of schools are reported closed, and more than half are non-functional in Ménaka. Ségou is described as the hardest-hit region by number, with 506 schools closed.

Why schools are closing

Africanews attributes the closures to worsening insecurity and the expanding presence of armed jihadist groups. Afrik.com reports that schools have been attacked, looted or destroyed, while others are being used to shelter displaced families. Teachers are also reluctant to take up posts in unsafe areas, where security conditions no longer allow classes to run normally.

The government has declared 2026 to 2027 the “Year of Education and Culture”. According to Afrik.com, President Assimi Goïta’s government has pledged investment in infrastructure and improvements in teaching quality. Africanews notes that the authorities face a twin challenge: reopening closed schools and keeping those that are open safe and functioning throughout the year.

What it means for children and the sector

Prolonged school closures carry consequences beyond learning. Children out of school are more exposed to protection risks, including child labour, early marriage and recruitment by armed groups, and lose access to services that schools can provide, such as school feeding and psychosocial support. For displaced families, losing a place in school compounds the disruption of having fled their homes.

For humanitarian and development organisations, the situation strengthens the case for education in emergencies programmes: temporary learning spaces, accelerated and catch-up learning, radio and community-based education, teacher support in hard-to-reach areas, and work to protect schools from attack. The involvement of UNICEF and Save the Children in the Education Cluster reflects the coordinated response already in place, but needs remain large in a challenging funding environment.

What this means for NGO job seekers

Education in emergencies is a specialist field, and Mali’s situation is likely to sustain demand for people with relevant skills, both in Mali and across the Central Sahel. Roles and skills to watch include:

  • Education in emergencies (EiE): programme managers and officers experienced in temporary learning spaces, accelerated education and alternative delivery such as radio learning.
  • Child protection: caseworkers and specialists who can integrate protection with education programming.
  • Teacher training and psychosocial support: trainers able to support teachers working in insecure or displacement settings.
  • Cluster coordination and information management: staff who can track closures, needs and response coverage.
  • Safety and access: security managers and access negotiators who enable programmes to reach affected areas.

French is essential for most roles in Mali, and knowledge of Bambara or other local languages is a strong advantage. Familiarity with the INEE Minimum Standards for education in emergencies and experience with community-based approaches will strengthen applications. Many roles are open to national staff, so building a track record with local organisations can be a pathway into larger agencies.

Explore openings on our NGO jobs in Mali page, see opportunities in neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso and Niger via NGO jobs by country, or search everything on Browse Jobs. Our Career Resources offer guidance on CVs and interviews.

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