Bamako - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
There is one Anglophone school that is accredited (AISB). Most people find AISB to be fine for elementary grades. Some think that the middle school is also fine. Very few Americans will choose to keep their kids here for high school. I know many of the teachers and feel they are very high quality professionals, but the class size becomes too small to offer the full middle school/high school experience. Also, Anglophones are a minority in the school and so classes are tailored to the pace of kids who are speaking English as a second, third, or fourth language (which speaks highly to diversity!, but can slow progression in the curriculum). I have struggled to watch my advanced preschooler lose all of his reading, writing and math skills over the past year. While all of my friends love the school and the experience that their children are having, for me the school has made me realize how high my standards are for my children's education, and AISB isn't meeting them. - Jul 2011
You have Boux de Choux at Hippodrome, Rose Bleu at Quinzambougou for pre-K, or the International American school. Then for bigger kids it's the International American School or Liberte (French school). There're more but these are the best. - Jul 2011
There is a French school (Lycee Liberte) and the American International School of Bamako (AISB).I think parents are generally satisfied with the quality of the education. AISB should be inaugurating its new campus soon (if it hasn't already), which means its location will move from Badalabougou to the other side of the river, past the Cite du Niger. Good luck with the morning commute, kids! - Oct 2010
There's an american school here that teachers 1st grade through 12th. The school is very small and there aren't many students, but it is there. - May 2010
American International School of Bamako (AISB) is where the vast majority of embassy personnel send their kids. It runs from PK-3 through HS though there is exactly 1 embassy child in the HS.AISB is just fine for elementary though the quality is diluted thanks to the administrations policy of admitting anyone who asks including local children of elites with no need for an expat education who speak zero English and have zero involvement in their children's education. NOTE - the school is set to move to a campus completely on the opposite side of town from the embassy in 2010 (probably a full 45min from the embassy w/o traffic).Though it will be a gorgeous campus, no one knows why the embassy allowed this to happen, as it will make either the employee have a huge commute or the kids have a huge commute. There is also the Bamako Christian Academy (BCA) which is primarily for missionary children though some embassy children have attended. The classes are small which equates to a lot of attention from the very dedicated teachers. Oddly enough there is a higher percentage of Americans at BCA than AISB. There is also the Bamako International Academy (BIA) which is run by some Dutch expats, but its reputation isn't very good, and the fact that none of the official Dutch or Dutch NGOs send their kids there probably is the best statement about it. Again, however, embassy personnel have sent their children there. The French school, Lycée Français Liberté has a very good reputation as the best school in the country. It is, of course, very difficult to get into and not really a viable option unless your children are truly bilingual. Several embassy children attend the French school at the moment. - Sep 2009
Relatively good school. Principle responsive. Small class sizes. Academic program OK. - Apr 2009
American School and French School-I've heard good things about both. - Feb 2009
One American school, also a Dutch school with U.S. curriculum and a French school. We didn't have experience with them. - Feb 2009
American International School of Bamako is pretty good and the kids seem happy. Currently located near many of the embassy houses, although it will be moving at some point in the next couple of years to a congested area that will increase the commute time for the kids tremendously. - Jan 2009
