Using data from a survey conducted recently in Madagascar, the article analyzes what teachers and school directors do when they are at work and how they manage the pedagogical process. The results show that in only 15 percent of the sample schools do all of the teachers and school directors consistently perform the tasks considered essential to their role. Engagement at work is found to be significantly lower among contract teachers than among civil service teachers, and the ability of teachers to manage the pedagogical process does not improve with accumulated experience. Other noteworthy features in the important in developing effective schools.