The mayor of Tiassalé, Tiémoko Assalé Antoine , recently expressed his outrage at the assessment fees imposed on primary school students. Via his social media accounts, the elected official denounced a financial burden he considers unjustified and called for a thorough overhaul of the management of educational resources in Côte d'Ivoire.

A cost deemed "disproportionate"

The mayor's anger stems from the 1,000 CFA francs charged to each student to cover exam fees. For Tiémoko Assalé, the calculation is simple: demanding such a sum for the equivalent of six sheets of paper per year is excessive.

He advocates a return to fundamental teaching methods:

1. Teachers need to regain control over the organization of assessments.
2. Primary Education Inspectorates (IEP) must confine themselves to their role of supervision and guidance, without interfering in the financial management related to copies.

Reforming the role of COGES

Beyond paper costs, the mayor is advocating for a more strategic use of COGES (School Management Committees) resources. According to him, these funds should be used exclusively to resolve the schools' day-to-day logistical problems.

He also points to the inertia of certain municipalities that are struggling to implement the December 2020 decree aimed at easing the financial burden on parents of students.

The Tiassalé model: a possible alternative?

To illustrate his point, the elected official highlights the concrete initiatives implemented in his own municipality:

1. Total autonomy: The town hall provides all the necessary teaching materials to primary and preschools from the start of the school year.
2. Modernization: Removal of chalk in favor of whiteboards and markers in all establishments.
3. Budgetary support: All of this equipment and consumables are financed by the municipal budget, without requesting resources from the COGES.

"The school must be considered as an institution serving all, whose benefits should accrue to every Ivorian citizen," the mayor concluded.

By taking this stance, Tiémoko Assalé hopes to spark a national debate on the real free provision of schooling and the effectiveness of public investment in the education sector.