Overview of the Higher Education System in Côte d’Ivoire

Jérémie N’Gouan, Head of Pigier Côte d’Ivoire, gives his evaluation of the higher education system in Côte d’Ivoire, saying that in the last few years, the private sector has become increasingly important. The state, having fewer seats in its establishments, has resorted to private institutions to support graduates. In 2025, there will be about 700,000 students in the country, including 400,000 in the private sector. Thus the private sphere complements the government action and the training provided in the public educational institutions.

The private higher education institutions have a private contract to run a public service of the state. So the state has to create the regulatory framework for the exercise of the profession, to ensure that the future challenges are managed simultaneously by both the public and the private sector.

Furthermore, in Côte d’Ivoire, the state guides children, when the parents should be the ones to choose their school. It is therefore necessary to improve the governance of the system with greater transparency, by publishing schools performances for example, so the problem of poor quality schools will be set for itself.