On the eve of the new school year, scheduled for October 1, 2026, in Niger, mothers are relying on tontines to raise enough money to pay for tuition, school supplies, and uniforms. These communal savings groups allow them to plan for certain expenses at a time when the cost of living is putting a strain on households.
Collective Savings Set Aside for School
In markets and school-supply stores, families are preparing for the start of the school year. For several mothers interviewed by DW, the money paid into a tontine and then received in turn serves as a resource to cover back-to-school purchases.
Amina Adamou, a mother of several children, explains that the money she receives each week helps her buy their supplies and contribute to household expenses. “The tontine helps me a lot because I’m able to save money,” she says.
Laouali Aïcha says she has already used the funds to pay for her children’s tuition. She now plans to use the money to buy their uniforms. The tontine can thus cover various back-to-school expenses, not just enrollment fees.
More Than 50,000 Francs Raised
Halima Issa participates in several weekly tontines. According to her account, she has raised more than 50,000 francs and began the enrollment process the day before school started.
The experiences shared demonstrate how this form of community-based savings helps some families spread out their school-related expenses. Depending on the needs mentioned, the funds raised are used for enrollment fees, school supplies, and clothing. However, the report does not specify the total amount of expenses or the portion covered by the tontines.
The start of the 2026–2027 school year was scheduled for Thursday, October 1, throughout Niger, according to the Niger Press Agency. ()
Source: DW-WORLD’s French Homepage (www.dw.com)
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