Training

The education system in the Comoros has major shortcomings. Literacy is low but is improving at a slow pace. Officially there is a compulsory school tenure, but many students drop out of school early to work instead.

The children must start six-year primary school at the age of six. Then follows a seven-year extension phase, of which the last three years are voluntary.

In practice, just over four out of five six-year-olds start primary school (2007), while just under three out of four go on to the post-secondary education (2012). However, since most children spend a couple of years in traditional Qur’an schools teaching Islam, Arabic and some non-religious subjects, the educational time is slightly longer than the statistics show.

• COUNTRYAAH: Country facts of Comoros, including geography profile, population statistics, and business data.

The country’s only university is located in the capital Moroni and was first opened in 2004. Access to vocational education is limited. A few hundred comrades study at foreign universities. Since the opportunities to find work in the home country are small, most of them stay abroad.

FACTS – EDUCATION

Proportion of children starting primary school

79.8 percent (2017)

Number of pupils per teacher in primary school

19 (2017)

Reading and writing skills

49.2 percent (2012)

Public expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP

15.3 percent (2015)

Public expenditure on education as a percentage of the state budget

15.3 percent (2015)

2013

November

Members of Shiite sect are arrested

Police arrest more than 20 members of a Shiite sect. The arrests are made after the Comorian religious leaders at a meeting in the capital Moroni discussed the growing influence of Shia Muslims in the country.

April

A coup attempt is averted

The Comorian authorities announce that 15 people have been arrested by security police in connection with a coup attempt. Among those arrested is a son of former President Ahmed Abdallah, who was killed in a coup in 1989. One of the leaders of the coup attempt is reported to be Patrick Klein, who previously had close contact with French mercenary Bob Denard. Denard was involved in several coups in the Comoros (see Modern History) before he died in 2007.

January

Law against religious propaganda

A new law will come into force that could provide imprisonment or other punishment for spreading religious propaganda that causes social unrest or jeopardizes the unity of the nation.