After recording a 60% retention rate for our first cohort of sponsored students, we introduced a six-month bridging course in 2022 with a focus on French literacy to better equip primary school graduates for the demands of high-quality secondary schools in Northern Madagascar. Our first bridging course cohort included five students who upon entry to the course scored an average of 45% on their exams. By the end of the course, the collective average jumped to 74%, and all five students have qualified for sponsorship to high school.