. >> physical education class at 7:00 in the morning, here in tiÉnekÉ-bougou, a village that's a two-hourrive north of mali's capital, bamako. solomane traorÉ, known to his friends as "solo", attends what's called a "speed school." he's completing an elementary school education. it will take him just 9 months to catch up on three years of normal school. lessons incorporate elements of play, but discipline is also important. 10-year-old solo is one of 25 children in the village who go to this school. he's ambitious and a hard worker. >> i know the alphabet and i can count. i can do a, l, i, È und o. -- and o. >> the first two months aren't easy. when the children first arrive they can't write. they don't even know how to hold a pen. >> if it weren't for the speed school, solo wouldn't get any education at all. like many children here in mali, he didn't have an opportunity to attend school when he was younger. solo isn't just learning to read and write. his confidence is also growing. plus, he's learning to be punctual and reliable. >> when school's finished for the day, i help out on the f