Yssouf Keita

Educational vulnerability of children on gold panning sites in the rural commune of Sadiola, Republic of Mali Yssouf Keita

The analysis of the educational situation of the children at these sites is intended to corroborate the hypothesis that any education specialist who is immersed in the realities of gold panning sites could formulate around the following question: could the education of children attending gold panning sites not be compromised because of the activities to which they are subjected? This study was effective thanks to field research. Three samples were established to determine the limits of the number of people to be surveyed according to the quantitative approach of the analysis (30 adults, 20 parents and 10 children). For the qualitative analysis, educational and political-administrative officials from the rural commune of Sadiola were chosen. The adults working on the sites unanimously put forward the assertion that children's education is compromised by the activities they carry out on the sites. The information obtained about the types of activities carried out by the children is as follows: 10% digging; 20% crushing; 10% manual transport of minerals; 15% washing of minerals; 15% trading; and 30% catering.