Odienné, Sept 17, 2021 (AIP) – Educational actor committed to the implementation of the National Strategy for the integration of Islamic structures into the formal education system, Daniel Liéba Djélérou, recalled, from Odienné, the objectives underlying this government policy in particular that of allowing residents of these establishments to benefit, too, from a complete training capable of making them citizens connected to the socio-economic realities of their country so as to be able to participate in its development.

Islamic education in Côte d’Ivoire, still largely informal, remains, to this day, focused on teaching religion and the Arabic language. The purpose, at the origin and which remains, being to manufacture religious guides.

A situation that continues to deprive many children of the formal education system. Children thus limited, once adults, in their capacity for socio-professional integration. Even for those who have been able to access higher education in Arab states. Because only knowing how to speak, read and write Arabic. De facto graduates outside the classic absorption circuits in a French-speaking state.

“The State has the duty to give the same opportunities to all children and until then these children of Islamic education structures, for some, have major studies and have major diplomas in Arab countries. But on their return to Côte d’Ivoire they cannot be used, ”lamented Mr. Djélérou.

“A father who bled for the education of his child is to be useful for himself and for his family and by extending for his country. A child who earns great diplomas who comes back who cannot work is a loss for the nation, ”he continued.

The educational actor spoke on the sidelines of a training session for the benefit of communication officers from regional directorates of national education and literacy and inspections, Sunday, September 12, 2021, in Odienné, on the Strategy national integration of children from Islamic structures into the formal education system.

Initiated by the government and adopted in 2019, this strategy is a response by the State of Côte d’Ivoire to the problem of 1.6 million children and adolescents outside the school system, including 377,000 from around 3,000 Islamic educational structures not recognized by the state.

A project which is now in its implementation phase after discussions between national education experts and actors of the Islamic system which has now made it possible to have tools for teaching a program harmonized in all Islamic educational structures. A curriculum that takes into account the national education program and the requirement of teaching Arabic and religion.

The advantage is that all children attending Islamic structures will be able to benefit from a plural education which will broaden their horizons.

The national strategy for integrating children from Islamic structures into the formal education system, submitted in the government’s Public Investment Program (PIP), will be implemented until 2025 at an estimated cost of around 31.5 billion F CFA including 16.2 FCFA from Côte d’Ivoire’s own resources.

Source: Agence Ivoirienne de Presse