Child labor was a featured topic during yesterday’s Malagasy language exam for the BEPC (Brevet d’études du premier cycle). As students left the exam halls, opinions were divided. In the written expression section, worth 14 points, candidates were asked to reflect on the prompt: “Betsaka ny ankizy sy vanton-jaza miasa ankehitriny,” which translates to “Many children and minors are working today.” They were required to cite two causes for this phenomenon and write a fifteen-sentence response following a structured plan, coherent argumentation, and correct spelling.
“The two main causes of child labor in Madagascar are, on one hand, family poverty, which forces many parents to have their children participate in income-generating activities to support the household. On the other hand, dropping out of school or difficulties in accessing education contribute to children entering the workforce early,” explains Daniel Randriamananjara, a Malagasy language teacher.
Beyond child labor, candidates were also tested on topics such as the tradition of exhumation and other items in the curriculum. Upon leaving the exam, reactions were mixed. Some candidates found the topic difficult, while others found it manageable. Ismael Notsongaina, a candidate at the Andoharanofotsy High School exam center, noted: “I only found one cause for why many children are working now, which is the extreme poverty that some families face.” Conversely, another candidate stated the subject was relevant: “It is a current affairs topic. Many children work today to help their families; some have no choice because their own parents encourage them to work.”
Some students also reported that they had not completed the entire school curriculum, noting that certain concepts in the exam had not yet been covered in class. “We didn’t finish all the lessons planned for this year, and some questions covered notions we hadn’t seen yet. I tried to answer with what I knew,” said Finaritra, a BEPC candidate. Beyond the exam, the subject served as a reminder that child labor remains a pressing reality in Madagascar.
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-07 06:13:25 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/bepc-le-travail-des-enfants-lepreuve-de.html