Students in captivity

• Students in captivity

In Senegal, a small country on the west of the African continent, secular primary education is not considered a free public service. Thousands of children have access only to religious schools in which study the Koran. All anything, but for the work of teachers pay ... the children themselves. Teachers are forced to beg every day wards in the city and give them all of the revenue in exchange for lessons. Those who refuses to live by these rules, beaten or kicked out on the street. Children are forced to accept, because education, though religious - let small, but still a chance to escape the poverty and dirt. Photographer Sebastian Gil Miranda went to Senegal for two months to see and tell the world the story of young people who are drawn to knowledge, despite the fear and humiliation.

The children sing in one of the lessons in the religious school. According to data for 2014, in Senegal, there were 50,000 students who earn their studies begging

Pupils of a Senegalese religious schools at their desks

Boy posing in her room on the outskirts of Dakar

The pupils watch TV on the outskirts of Dakar. Training centers in which they learn, can accommodate from 30 to 100 pupils

Children playing with educational materials

The boy in the rain in one of the Senegalese towns

Students collect money earned in cans of tomato soup

The student Dakar school reaches out in hope to receive alms

The friends were talking through the bars

Girls participate in a religious ceremony

10-15 boys live in one room, training center

The school lunch

Wooden planks used in the study of the Koran

On the lessons in the school of Dakar

Laundry on school terrace

A girl poses for a photo

column construction in one of the Senegalese schools

Boys studying the Koran

The student is directed to the center of Dakar, to beg