Training
The children start six-year primary school at
the age of seven. Six children out of ten attend
elementary school, but fewer than half continue to the
two higher stages of four and three years respectively.
More boys than girls go to school. Nine-year school duty
was introduced in 2015.
The funding of the education system is insufficient:
the premises are poor, the classes are large (over 40 on
average, but sometimes they can consist of up to 100
students), books are often missing, the teachers are
poorly educated and the quality of teaching has
deteriorated in recent years. Many teachers have died of
AIDS and many children are forced to leave school early
to work. Plans to build new schools were put on ice when
the Civil War broke out in 2002 (see Modern History).
During the war many schools were closed, especially in
the north, and the whole school system was hit hard.
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Allcitypopulation: Offers a list of biggest cities in the state of Ivory
Coast, including the capital city which hosts major colleges and
universities.
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COUNTRYAAH:
Country facts of Ivory Coast, including geography profile, population statistics, and business data.
The state schools are free of charge, but students
have to pay for teaching materials. Families with good
incomes prefer to put their children in private schools.
Most of these are run by the Catholic Church. In the
north there are also plenty of Koran schools.
Literacy has increased since independence, but still
just over half of adult men can read and write, for
women the proportion is lower.
There are three universities, two in Abidjan and one
in Bouaké. The Université de Cocody in Abidjan
has branches in several cities. Many Ivorian youth study
abroad, mainly in France.
FACTS - EDUCATION
Proportion of children starting primary
school
86.0 percent (2017)
Number of pupils per teacher in primary
school
42 (2017)
Reading and writing skills
43.9 percent (2014)
Public expenditure on education as a
percentage of GDP
18.7 percent (2017)
Public expenditure on education as a
percentage of the state budget
18.7 percent (2017)
2017
June
UN force is withdrawn
June 26
The UN force Unoci ends its mission in the Ivory Coast.
September
Ghana wins sea rights dispute with Ivory Coast
November 23
The International Maritime Law Court ruled in favor of Ghana in a dispute
with the Ivory Coast over where the boundaries of the countries' economic zones
should go (a coastal state's economic zone is the off-coastal area where the
country in question has the right to extract natural resources). Ghana, which is
already drilling for oil in the disputed oil and gas-rich sea area between the
countries, is now entitled to continue. After the verdict, both countries
announce their intention to respect the ruling.
Henriette Diabaté becomes the new leader of RDR
September 10
President Ouattara offers some surprises when his party's Republican
Assembly (RDR) holds congress in Abidjan. This is partly because he
himself does not run for party leader, which is seen as a clear signal that he
does not intend to run for re-election in 2020. The post goes instead to the
former minister, the 82-year-old Henriette Diabaté. The second highest post in
the party hierarchy goes to Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, whom many see
as Ouattara's "crown prince".
The magazine Africa Confidential speculates that it was the president's wife
Dominique Ouattara who exerted her influence. Women make up almost half of RDR's
Board of Directors.
Gbagbo supporters are accused of violent violence
September 8
People loyal to former President Gbagbo are accused of being behind a series
of raids against police posts and prisons, according to information from the
Ivorian Interior Ministry. The two people who are particularly highlighted are
Gbagbo's son-in-law Stephane Kipré and Damana Pickass, who previously had a
leading role in the Young Patriots.
The purpose of the attacks is, according to Interior Minister Sidiki Diakité,
to create concerns that may threaten the stability of the country in the long
run. 35 people have been arrested accused of being behind the violence. In
connection with the latest attack on a prison, in early September, 98 prisoners
managed to escape, but 44 of them, according to authorities, must have been
arrested again.
Boubakar Koné, leader of the CPI, denies that there is anything in Diakité's
tasks.
Media also draws attention to the gangs that the Ivorians call daily
microbes, which are behind a series of violent incidents in Abidjan.
July
The Reconciliation Commission is closed
July 4th
The Reconciliation and Compensation Commission (RCC) is closed down. In 2015,
RCC replaced a former Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and has been tasked with
identifying victims in the long conflict and paying damages to them. However,
RCC has only paid out money to 5000 people. RCC's task will now be taken over by
the Ministry of Solidarity.
May
The myth is interrupted
May 16
The rebellious soldiers sign a new wage agreement with the government and
cancel the mutiny that has been going on for four days.
The myth continues
15th of May
Firearms are breaking out in several cities, among them the largest city of
Abidjan, despite the fact that the army leadership claims to have launched a
counter-attack against the mythists. In Bouaké, one person is killed, but in
most cases it is believed to be soldiers demonstrating their dissatisfaction
with shooting in the air.
New soldier myth
May 14
Insurgent soldiers block the access roads to the country's second largest
city of Bouaké in protest of not getting promised pay raises. They also prevent
civilians from protesting the soldiers' myth. At a similar mutiny in January,
the soldiers should have been promised the equivalent of 18,000 euros each,
which they now claim they did not receive. The lump sum is seen as part of the
government's effort to modernize the military, which requires, among other
things, that several thousand men, among them the majority of former rebels,
should be engaged. Six civilians are injured in Bouaké and other cities during
the unrest associated with the mutiny.
February
Journalists are released
February 15
The three journalists arrested on February 12, suspected of having spread
false information, are released after three days. However, they say they still
run the risk of being arrested again and brought to trial.
Journalists are accused of spreading "fake news"
February 12
Six journalists, including three newspaper owners, are arrested on charges of
spreading false information about the latest uprising within the country's
military elite. They are accused of having disseminated information that
encouraged the soldiers to revolt. Among those arrested are people linked to
opposition newspapers Le Temps, who, among other things, question the legitimacy
of Ouattara as president, and Notre Voie, who has close ties to the FPI.
According to highly regarded military sources, the elite soldiers should have
"apologized" for their behavior.
Settlement clear between government and elite force
February 8
Soldier uprising is suspended after a few days after the government concluded
a settlement with members of the country's elite force. All outstanding salaries
and bonuses must be paid out on February 13.
New soldier rebellion
February 7
Soldiers from an elite unit responsible for the president's security rebel
and accuse their commanders of having stolen parts of their salaries. According
to a soldier quoted by the BBC's internet site, he had only received the
equivalent of $ 80 a month, despite the salary being $ 400. The soldiers are
stationed at a naval base in the city of Adiake, near the border with Ghana, and
in Tengrela near the border with Mali. The government is opening negotiations to
try to resolve the crisis (see also Foreign Policy and Defense).
January
Soldiers in new protests
January 17
New protests are reported to have erupted in the capital Yamoussoukro,
Abidjan and in the cities of Man and Daloa in the west. This time, soldiers
belonging to paramilitary forces are protesting. They are said to demand similar
bonus payouts promised to the soldiers in the army. Four soldiers are killed as
soldiers approach a relocation belonging to the Republican Guard. The soldiers
must also have stolen cars and broken into two police stations to steal weapons.
Change of Prime Minister post
January 10
Daniel Kablan Duncan resigns as head of government and is replaced by Amadou
Gon Coulibaly, who previously served as advisor to the president. Shortly
thereafter, Kablan Duncan was appointed Vice President of the country. The
number of ministerial posts falls from 35 to 28.
Soldier rebellion begins in the north
January 6
A riot among soldiers begins in Bouaké and spreads to several other cities.
In Abidjan, the insurgents take control of the army headquarters. The soldiers
demand increases in pay, better housing and faster promotions. The situation
calms down after the government concludes an agreement to improve soldiers'
living conditions.
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