Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LIBREVILLE505
2006-08-03 13:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Libreville
Cable title:  

GABON'S SCHOOLS FAIL END OF YEAR EXAMS

Tags:  SCUL SOCI GB 
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DE RUEHLC #0505 2151328
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031328Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9258
INFO RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0701
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 1312
RUEHBZ/AMEMBASSY BRAZZAVILLE 0826
UNCLAS LIBREVILLE 000505 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL SOCI GB
SUBJECT: GABON'S SCHOOLS FAIL END OF YEAR EXAMS


UNCLAS LIBREVILLE 000505

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL SOCI GB
SUBJECT: GABON'S SCHOOLS FAIL END OF YEAR EXAMS



1. Few of Gabon's students passed their exams this year: only
17% of students completing ninth grade succeeded in the entry
exam for secondary school (BEPC),and just 35% of secondary
students passed the baccalaureat exam, equivalent to a high
school diploma. Gabon's results are much worse than those of
neighbor Cameroon, where 59% of students passed the
baccalaureat.


2. No one was surprised that Gabon's students did poorly,
since that is an annual occurrence, but the results of the
BEPC were even worse than expected. The blame for this
performance is distributed widely. Those generally held
responsible include:
--Politicians who appoint school officials based on ethnic or
family ties, rather than competence;
--School officials who seek to enrich themselves rather than
enhance their institutions;
--Teachers who give passing grades to failing students for
pay, or because of ethnic ties;
--Parents, who ignore the education of their offspring or
offer teachers bribes for good grades; and
--Students who don't take their studies seriously.


3. Minister of Education Albert Ondo Ossa, appointed in 2005,
is generally considered serious and has pledged fundamental
reform. He plans to begin by reducing spending on enormously
costly scholarships for Gabonese students to study overseas;
this currently absorbs almost $90 million per year.
Redeploying some of these funds into the secondary school
system will be easier than increasing accountability of
officials, teachers, parents and students.
WALKLEY