TOGO: 132 private schools will not be opening their doors this year

A few weeks before the start of the 2023-2024 academic year, the Ministry responsible for technical primary secondary education and crafts and national education actors held a meeting at the end of the week in Lomé on the proper functioning of private schools in Togo. The closure of clandestine schools and the irrational fixing of tuition fees by promoters were at the heart of the meeting.

At the end of the discussions, the education stakeholders unanimously supported the government measure to close establishments that operate illegally and in a framework that is not conducive to guaranteeing the safety of students and teachers. They are also committed to working to improve the education sector in general and the private sector in particular.

Indeed, 132 secular private establishments of all levels, recognized as clandestine, will not open the doors to the next academic year 2023-2024, scheduled for September 18, 2023. and for good reason, they do not offer «a secure framework for training and learning» and «above all, do not ensure the quality of education as recommended by the government roadmap» according to the ministry headed by Dodzi Kokoroko.

Following the exchanges on the second point, the promoters of secular private establishments promised to work for a harmonization and a cap on school fees according to the educational zones, in order to avoid overbidding and relieve the parents of pupils.

Kokou MIDODZI