Guinea Country Background:

Guinea is a country situated in West Africa with an area of roughly 245 800 km2 (310 sq miles). The country shares land borders with Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mali, Cote D’Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The capital, Conakry, is the economic center of the country. Referred to as a “geographical scandal”, Guinea encompasses huge natural resources (“25 billion metric tones of bauxite and perhaps up to one-half of the world's reserves. In addition, Guinea's mineral wealth includes more than 4-billion tons of high-grade iron ore, significant diamond and gold deposits, and undetermined quantities of uranium”1 ).

Furthermore, the country’s population (10.6 millions) is very young (more than 60% of the population 30 years of age or younger). However when it comes to Education, Guinea is still falling behind World standard and the Millennium Development Goals of 2015.  In fact the country is ranked 170 in terms of literacy rate.2

 

Education System Since 1958:

At independence in 1958, Guinea implemented a mass teaching system where primary school attendance was mandatory. The primary school program was geared toward rural areas where productive work was part of the curriculum. Early on, about 24% of the National budget was devoted to education.

From 1959 to 1964:
-Private schools were suppressed in 1961.
-Schools were free at all levels and obligatory until the second part of the Baccalaureate.

From 1964 to 1968:
-National Literacy campaign created.
-Written practice of national languages was made obligatory in 1965.

1970:
- French language as a discipline was introduced as part of the mandatory curriculum in the third year of primary school.

From 1980 -- Present:
- Enrollement declined in the early 80s especially in the primary level from 33% to 27%.
- Unesco created the Higher Institute of Training of Professors of Teaching Technique (Matoto).
-Restructuring of the education system.

- In 1985 French was reintroduced as the teaching language at all levels, and private schools were authorized.
- Although many attempts were made to improve the quality of education, increasing corruption, poverty and inflation, unemployment rates have contributed to the decline of the quality of education in Guinea.

Organization of the Education System:

Below is a Mapping of the Educational System of Guinea:

Primary School:

-Duration of 6 years with a certificate of primary elementary studies (CEPE) at the end of the cycle.
-The official age for first grade is 7 years.
-The cycle is structured in 3 semi-cycles: the preparatory course (CP1, CP2), the elementary course (CE1,CE2) and the middle course(CM1,CM2).

 

 

 

 

 

Secondary School:

Divided in two cycles:

-The first takes a period of 4 years. Students at a successful completion of this cycle are awarded a Certificate called BEPC ( Brevet d'tudes du premier cycle).

-The second is the equivalent of High School with a duration of 3 years. Here at the end of the cycle students are subject to a national exam upon which a successful student is awarded a Baccalaureate Certificate. 

 

 

Technical School and Professional Training:

At this stage, we also have two subdivisions:

-Type B: This option is reserved to holders of the first secondary school certificate (BEPC). Here students are trained during 3 years in various fields such as nursing, technology etc (Note that these are basic formations thus have a limitation). Upon completion of the program, students are awarded a professional certificate of aptitude in their particular specializations (CAP)

-Type A: In this category, students are recruited after the completion of the baccalaureate. After 3 years of formation, students are awarded a Certificate depending on their fields of concentration. For instance some obtain a Certificate of Superior Technician (Brevet de Technicien Superieur). Others a certificate of teaching called “Professeur d’Enseignment Technique et Professionnel PETP”.

Upper-Level Teaching and Scientifc Research:

At this level, a 2 years formation leads to a diploma of general universities studies. After 3 years, students obtain a “Licence”, followed by a year long of internship and thesis preparation. At the completion of these requirements students obtain a Diploma of Superior Studies (DES).

Engineering degrees also require a 4 year period. In the medical field, students receive a Doctoral degree in Pharmaceutical studies after 5 years and a a Doctoral Degree in Medical Studies after 6 years.