• A new constitution in Cote d’Ivoire is on schedule.

• The president has decided that there should be many more students in public universities and that is why the state has gone ahead with building new universities.

• The first phase was opened in October 2021 and the second phase will be opened in March 2023.

With regard to making education easily accessible, the government, organizations, and private bodies have been playing their roles to see African citizens get quality education. 

In light of this, a new institution in Cote d’Ivoire under President Alassane Ouattara’s priority higher education expansion strategy is on schedule. The Minister of higher education and scientific research visited the place to inspect its progress and confirmed this to Confidentiel Afrique.

A representative of the developer, Envol Partenariats, confirmed that the work is now 95% complete. This includes university residences with 1,000 beds and accommodation for teachers, lecture halls, laboratories and workshops, and offices for the university presidents and other executives; this was also reported to Confidentiel Afrique.

While taking note of the national provision for higher education, Diawara said: “At present, there are 273,866 students, and 57% of these students are in public institutions and the 43% others are in private universities and grandes écoles. That works out expensive for the state of Côte d’Ivoire.

“President Alasane Ouattara decided, on his accession to power, that there should be many more students in the public universities. That is why the state has gone ahead with building new universities. The higher education research units at Daloa and Korhogo have been converted into universities, and there are new universities – at Man and San-Pedro – as well as the Virtual University of Côte d’Ivoire, and the University of Bondoukou, which is under construction. I should add that these universities are being built in several phases.”

Diawara said the first part of the first phase had been opened in October 2021; and the second part was on course to open in March 2023, which would include science facilities. Following this visit, he expressed his satisfaction with the progress.

Upon its completion, San Pedro would cater to 20,000 students, with residences for 7,000, reported Confidentiel Afrique. When this preliminary phase was finished, the first 3,000 students could move in, with accommodation for 1,000.