Universities reopen after ‘blank’ years

When Côte d'Ivoire's five public universities reopen on 3 September, 61,000 students will arrive for the first time after almost two ‘blank’ years since universities were closed in the violent unrest sparked by the disputed 2010 presidential vote. The influx could cause chaos, reports IRIN News.

In the 2009-10 academic year, before the closure, there were some 56,000 students. "If the influx is not competently handled, it will spark fears of serious social problems among the students and parents," said Kanvaly Fadiga, a lecturer at the École Nationale Supérieure, a specialised tertiary institution in Côte d'Ivoire's commercial capital, Abidjan.

Fadiga argues that the whole education system lacks quality, and that the blank years should have been used to assess university education. Weaknesses could have been identified and rectified through consultations, measures devised to eradicate violence, the learning programmes revised, and rigour in teaching instilled.
Full report on the IRIN News site