{"id":42258,"date":"2026-04-09T11:19:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T09:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world-education-blog.org\/?p=42258"},"modified":"2026-04-09T11:19:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T09:19:19","slug":"the-ministry-of-education-in-cote-divoire-renews-its-focus-on-school-leadership-to-boost-learning-outcomes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world-education-blog.org\/2026\/04\/09\/the-ministry-of-education-in-cote-divoire-renews-its-focus-on-school-leadership-to-boost-learning-outcomes\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ministry of Education in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire renews its focus on school leadership to boost learning outcomes"},"content":{"rendered":"

A\u00a0new report<\/a> placing a spotlight on school leadership for foundational literacy and numeracy in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire was published and\u00a0launched\u00a0today at an event in Abidjan in the presence of the African Union Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Gaspard Banyankimbona, and the Minister of Education, Literacy and Vocational Training of Cote d\u2019Ivoire, Koffi N\u2019Guessan.<\/p>\n

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The Spotlight report on C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire<\/a> is a partnership between the GEM Report and the Ministry of National Education,\u00a0Literacy\u00a0and Vocational Training\u00a0of C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire highlighting the country\u2019s remarkable progress in expanding access to education and its commitment to strengthen school leadership for improved learning for all Ivoirian children. It is one of the five focus country reports that were part of the third cycle of the\u00a0Spotlight report series<\/a>, alongside those published \u00a0on Cameroon<\/a>, Kenya<\/a>,\u00a0Morocco<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Zimbabwe<\/a> and the continental report<\/a>, entitled Lead for foundational learning<\/em> (now also available in French) and launched in October.<\/p>\n

Cote d\u2019Ivoire has achieved major progress in improving access to education <\/strong><\/h3>\n

The 2026 GEM Report, Access and equity: Countdown to 2030<\/a>, released two weeks ago, shows that C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire has made significant improvement in helping children access education, with 93% of children now enrolled in primary school. Across all three age groups from pre-primary to upper secondary, out-of-school rates are overall estimated to have halved in a quarter of a century. An in-depth case study<\/a> on the reasons for this success in the Report highlights, among other factors, significant investment by the government to triple the number of public secondary schools, the 2015 Education Law making education free, the provision of bridging classes to help excluded children re-enter school.<\/p>\n

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Significant reforms are also underway to improve learning outcomes <\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Spotlight country report on C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire<\/a> shows the accompanying reforms that have focused on improving foundational learning. These include the Ten-Year Education and Training Plan (2021\u20132030), which sets out a clear vision for equitable and quality education for all; the Competency-Based Curriculum that places learners at the center of the educational process; the scaling-up of the structured pedagogy approach through the National Programme for the Improvement of Early Learning (PNAPAS). The 2019 PASEC assessment shows that Ivorian teachers outperform their peers in other francophone African countries. The Spotlight report, which also draws on a survey of 60 primary schools, found that children in grades 1 to 3 had almost universal access to textbooks, an achievement that few African countries can match.<\/p>\n

Produced in partnership with the Ministry for National Education, Literacy and Professional Training, the Spotlight report on C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire celebrates these significant efforts, and highlights areas remaining to drive further improvements in learning outcomes.<\/p>\n

A call to strengthen school leadership<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The report calls for a comprehensive reform of school leadership in C\u00f4te d’Ivoire: from how principals are recruited to how they are supported once in post. This means establishing a transparent, merit-based selection process, investing in leadership training throughout principals\u2019 careers, and freeing them from excessive teaching loads so they can focus on their core instructional role.<\/p>\n

Beyond the principal, the report also urges a more collaborative model of governance, strengthening the role of school committees and local education authorities as genuine partners in improving learning outcomes.<\/p>\n

Two good practices are highlighted as strong bases upon which to build further improvements:<\/p>\n