Training
The level of education is low and the
majority of Guineans cannot read and write. Illiteracy
is higher among women than among men and has increased
in recent years. There is a great lack of teachers and
schools. About four children out of five children start
their six-year primary school at the age of seven. Only
about one in three pupils continue to higher stages (lycée)
of four and three years respectively.
According to the United Nations Children's Fund
UNICEF, almost every third student leaves school early,
often because they have to contribute to the family's
livelihood. More boys than girls participate in
teaching. The girls are especially few in the
countryside. In order to prevent the spread of infection
during the Ebola epidemic (see Social conditions), the
schools were closed during the first half of 2014, and
reopened only in early 2015. Some students were offered
extra teaching in French and mathematics via radio so
that they could catch what they missed.
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COUNTRYAAH:
Country facts of Guinea, including geography profile, population statistics, and business data.
The classes are large, with an average of 44
students. Formally, the school is free of charge, but
parents must pay for school uniforms, materials and
trips to and from the school. The teaching takes place
in eight different local languages.
Teacher salaries are low and it is not always the
school staff get paid on time. In some cases, teachers
have been completely without pay for more than six
months.
Independent schools have been allowed since 1984.
Muslim schools are found throughout the country. The
Qur'an schools, are not part of the state education
system, but in some cases they offer education
equivalent to primary school. Some new Qur'an schools,
so-called madrasas, also exist, and are run with support
from, among others, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other Gulf
states. However, they only teach Arabic and Islam. Many
of the children who attend there also participate in the
education within the general school system. There are
also some Christian schools in Conakry that did not
receive any government support for their activities.
No religious education is given in the state schools.
Guinea has two universities, one in Conakry and one
in Kankan. There are also some colleges.
Many students apply abroad, especially to France.
- Topmbadirectory: Offers information about politics, geography, and known people in Guinea.
FACTS - EDUCATION
Proportion of children starting primary
school
76.8 percent (2016)
Number of pupils per teacher in primary
school
47 (2016)
Reading and writing skills
32.0 percent (2014)
Public expenditure on education as a
percentage of GDP
14.4 percent (2017)
Public expenditure on education as a
percentage of the state budget
14.4 percent (2017)
2015
December
WHO declares Guinea free from Ebola
The World Health Organization WHO declares that Guinea is now free from
Ebola. In total, the disease has claimed more than 2,500 deaths in Guinea since
the epidemic began just over two years earlier.
August
The EU threatens to withdraw financial aid
The EU threatens to withdraw its € 140 million financial aid to the Guinean
elections if it is not held by 31 October.
Settlement on local politicians clear
In the middle of the month, representatives of the political opposition say
they have agreed with the president to appoint new mayors and representatives in
local political assemblies before the election. A formal agreement is signed on
20 August. It gives the opposition representation in 128 of Guinea's 343
districts.
July
Security forces are accused of human rights violations
The human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused the Guinean
security forces of excessive force during the anti-government protests in April
and May. According to HRW, police and soldiers have, among other things,
committed group rape and shot at least and shot at protesters. two protesters
have been killed and 10 have been shot.
The former junta leader is prosecuted in his absence
Former Junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara is charged in his absence. The
decision is handed to him by two judges and a prosecutor who interrogated him in
Burkina Faso, where he lives on the run. Prosecution is brought after the
International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor visited Conakry.
June
"Malaria requires more deaths than Ebola"
At the same time, data from a US research institute, the US Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, suggest that many more people have died of
malaria than Ebola during the epidemic, due to people not seeking care for fear
of suffering of Ebola. By mid-June, over 2,400 people in Guinea have died in
Ebola.
Prosecution against former junta members
A Guinean court is prosecuting two former junta members, Mamadouba "Toto"
Camara and Mathurin Bangoura, for their role in the massacre of opposition
supporters in 2009 (see September 2009).
March
The IMF writes off the shoulder
The IMF decides to write off Guinea's debt by almost $ 30 million.
A state of emergency is announced
At the end of the month, President Condé announces a "health emergency" in
five areas in the south and southwest of the country. This means, among other
things, that hospitals and clinics where new cases are discovered in quarantine
and that strict rules are introduced for funerals.
Violence against women is increasing
Reports indicate that violence against women has increased in the wake of the
Ebola epidemic. The fact that the epidemic hit so hard on healthcare
professionals has led to a lot of other health care activities having stopped.
Guinea has also suffered a setback in the fight against Ebola, as several new
cases have been reported during the month.
Date clear for presidential election
The Election Commission announces presidential elections until October 11. At
the same time, it postpones the local elections, which should have been held in
2014, to 2016. The opposition is protesting against the decision as it fears
that many local power holders will work for Condé ahead of the upcoming
elections. It threatens to boycott the work of the National Assembly.
February
Nearly 2,000 people have died in Ebola
New figures from WHO show that almost 2,000 people have died in Ebola until
February 8.
January
Former junta leaders form party
A new party is formed, the Patriotic Forces for Democracy and Development
(FPDD), led by former junta leader Dadis Camara, who is still in exile in
Burkina Faso.
Schools open again
Guinea's schools reopened after being closed for five months due to the Ebola
epidemic.
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