UIL committed to improving the quality of the Ivorian education system

Lifelong learning is essential for the development of Côte d'Ivoire. The challenges, however, are stark, with 2.15 million children without access to school, a persistent lack of qualified teachers and 7.8 million youth and adults unable to read or write.

With the aim of constructing a sustainable social pact to revitalize and improve the quality of Ivorian education, the national government launched Etats généraux de l'éducation nationale et de l'alphabétisation de la Côte d'Ivoire. The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) is supporting the work of its Literacy and Learning Society Commission, one of six taking stock of the educational situation in the country with a view to making recommendations for schools, as well as for training and lifelong learning.

From 17 January to 11 February 2022, the commissions will meet four times to discuss and synthesize the most promising ideas for submission to the Prime Minister.

Under the chairmanship of Professor Jérémie Kouadio, member of the Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Cultures of Africa and the African Diaspora (ASCAD), and national coordinator of the Action Research: Measuring Literacy Programme Participants’ Learning Outcomes (RAMAA) programme, the Literacy and Learning Society Commission met for the first time on 19 January 2022.

Its work will be to identify and analyse the conditions favorable to the emergence of a literate society engaged in learning throughout life. This will include:

• analysing the current provision of education from the perspective of inclusion and equity;
• examining alternative education provision (continuity, status, target audiences, financing, etc.);
• analysing national literacy policies and strategies;
• formulating recommendations to enable Côte d'Ivoire to offer a greater number of citizens the opportunity for lifelong learning and training to secure better socio-professional integration.

A UIL team will visit Côte d'Ivoire in February 2022 to provide technical support to the work of the commission.