Guinea and the Japan International Cooperation Agency are discussing expanded cooperation in education, vocational training, and teacher development. The talks are part of Guinea’s broader effort to improve education quality, strengthen human capital, and support long-term national development under the Simandou 2040 Program.
Minister of National Education and Literacy Alpha Bacar Barry met with Togawa Toru, head of JICA’s Guinea office, on June 11 in Conakry. During the meeting, Barry presented the government’s education reform priorities and emphasized the importance of both pre-service and in-service teacher training in improving learning outcomes across the country.
A key focus of the discussions was Guinea’s plan to modernize its 10 teacher-training institutes, known as Écoles normales d’instituteurs. The proposed upgrades include improving educational infrastructure, expanding student housing and dining facilities, and creating a better learning environment for future teachers.
The modernization project aims to address Guinea’s need for more qualified education professionals while making teaching a more attractive career path. By strengthening teacher preparation and professional development, the government hopes to improve classroom quality and support better student performance.
The talks also build on long-standing cooperation between Guinea and Japan. In October 2023, JICA launched the JICA Chair program in Guinea to support the training of future national leaders and contribute to the country’s human capital development.
Guinea’s education system continues to face major challenges, including teacher shortages, high student-to-teacher ratios, and low secondary school enrollment. During the 2022–2023 school census, the country recorded 53,388 primary school teachers, while the student-to-teacher ratio at the primary level stood at 43.3.
Education completion rates also show persistent gaps. UNESCO reported that Guinea’s primary school completion rate reached 70% for boys and 56% for girls in 2021, highlighting the need for continued investment in access, quality, and equity across the education system.
The proposed cooperation with JICA could help Guinea strengthen teacher training, expand vocational education, and improve the overall performance of its education sector. These reforms are expected to support the country’s broader goal of building a skilled workforce capable of contributing to economic and social transformation.
