Côte d’Ivoire boosts education system with ‘Pleins Feux’ initiative

Launched on 12 April 2026 in Abidjan, the « Pleins Feux » project reinforces Côte d’Ivoire’s ongoing efforts to modernize its education system under President Alassane Ouattara’s leadership. Supported by international partners, this initiative aims to enhance educational governance and optimize public policies to sustainably elevate learning standards.

Côte d’Ivoire’s booming population, now exceeding 30 million, with a youth majority, places unprecedented pressure on its education infrastructure—especially in rural areas. Education has become a cornerstone of President Ouattara’s agenda, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) and the 2030 Agenda. For over a decade, Ivorian authorities have implemented sweeping reforms to expand access and elevate teaching quality nationwide.

Scaling up education: recruitment, infrastructure and accessibility

Since 2011, Côte d’Ivoire has significantly expanded its teaching workforce, recruiting over 69,000 primary school teachers and more than 30,000 secondary teachers. Recent efforts have prioritized STEM disciplines, with 1,800 additional math and physics teachers deployed to meet labor market demands and support the country’s economic transformation goals.

Investments in school infrastructure have also accelerated, particularly in rural regions, to shorten commutes, reduce dropout rates, and bring education closer to students. New schools have been built across the nation, broadening educational coverage. The opening of the CAFOP training center in Boundiali (northern Côte d’Ivoire) exemplifies this push, with 68,000 candidates competing for 7,000 training spots in 2026—a testament to structured efforts to professionalize and renew the teaching corps.

School climate and inclusion: pillars of educational quality

Improving teaching conditions has emerged as a critical lever for educational policy. Between 2011 and 2025, starting salaries increased by over 30% in primary schools and up to 15% in secondary schools, boosting the profession’s appeal and stabilizing teaching teams.

Inclusion has gained momentum, with tailored learning materials for students with disabilities and initiatives to prevent school-related pregnancies—both aimed at reducing dropouts and ensuring equitable educational pathways. These measures reflect a broader commitment to fostering a secure, supportive learning environment for all.

« Pleins Feux »: a governance-focused leap forward

The « Pleins Feux » project, unveiled in Abidjan in April 2026, shifts the focus from infrastructure or staffing to educational governance and policy execution. Developed in collaboration with UNESCO, the African Union, and the Global Education Monitoring Report (GEM), the initiative follows two years of pilot work in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Ethiopia.

The program targets decision-makers and educational supervisors, equipping them with tools to translate policies into measurable improvements on the ground. As international partners commend Côte d’Ivoire’s progress in foundational learning, the country continues to diversify its partnerships—leveraging global, regional, and private sector support—to sustain its educational transformation.