The start of the school year has become a major economic issue. It constitutes a real bottleneck for parents of students. Between outfits, supplies and school fees, the period is a godsend for schools, vendors and also banks. Which offer all sorts of loans to parents, faced with an unmanageable situation as the needs are immense and insatiable. The State, overwhelmed by demographic pressure, seems to have resigned in this sector. Leaving the private sector, or even speculators, to call the shots.
In recent years, the school has lost its ideal of priesthood. It has become an investment like any other. With the key, the commitment of many businessmen in the sector, who make significant investments: tiles, windows. Which makes their establishments inaccessible to many Guineans.
Nelson Mandela said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” This is why all countries are now making it their hobby horse, devoting a significant portion of their national budget to this sector. Even if for Guinea the private sector has relegated the State to second place in education and training. Forcing families to resort to all means to educate their children. Including selling the only family home in order to send a son abroad to study.
Faced with the economic and financial challenge, private schools are not skimping on the means to fill classrooms. Some display their admission statistics for the various exams. Others use social networks to further communicate on the number of admissions they have had. Needless to say, those that have recorded a low or even mediocre rate are facing a real descent into hell. With, in the background, a massive departure of children.
But the failure factor is not the only one that explains the departure of students. There is also the sometimes fanciful increase in tuition fees. Like this school inaugurated last year in Kagbélen, with an infrastructure that borders on insolence. Faced with the enthusiasm it recorded last year, the managers increased tuition fees this year to almost 300%. Causing a massive withdrawal of files. Threatened with closure due to a lack of learners, the founder went back on the tuition fees. But the ball was in the air. All those who had withdrawn their files could no longer come back, since they had already registered elsewhere.
Other schools organize a level test to admit children. To fill their pockets, this test costs 100,000 francs, non-refundable even in the event of non-admission. Which some denounce as a pure and simple scam. In short, Guinean society is becoming more and more unequal. With some students studying in conditions that are just as good as those in developed countries. Others crammed into unventilated rooms where they drown in sweat.
Habib Yembering Diallo
2024-09-25 13:02:48