Tag Archives: Guinea-Bissau

According to collegesanduniversitiesinusa, since its independence from Portugal in 1974, the educational system of Guinea-Bissau has undergone many changes. Initially, education was free and compulsory for all children between the ages of 7 and 15. However, due to the country’s ongoing civil war, which lasted from 1998 to 1999, as well as subsequent economic instability, educational opportunities were drastically reduced. Primary education in Guinea-Bissau is still free and compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 and 11. However, due to a lack of resources and infrastructure, only about half of all children complete their primary education. As a result, the literacy rate in Guinea-Bissau is one of the lowest in Africa with only 39% of adults able to read and write. Secondary education is also available but not compulsory. In addition to public schools there are also a number of private institutions that offer higher quality instruction at a higher cost. Unfortunately, these schools are largely out of reach for most families due to their high tuition fees. As such only about 30% of secondary school-aged children attend school regularly. Tertiary education is also available in Guinea-Bissau through both public universities and private institutions offering diplomas or certificates in various fields such as business administration or engineering. However these programs are also expensive making them inaccessible to most students who cannot afford tuition fees or living expenses while studying abroad. Overall, despite some progress since independence in 1974 – such as increased access to primary schooling – educational opportunities remain limited in Guinea-Bissau due to poverty, corruption and political instability within the country. As such there is still much work needed if it were to achieve long-term prosperity for all its citizens through improved access to quality education at all levels. Guinea-Bissau has been plagued by political instability since its independence from Portugal in 1974. In 1998, a civil war broke out which lasted for nearly two years and further weakened the already fragile political system. The war ended in 1999 with a peace agreement signed by the government and the rebel forces but tensions have continued to simmer in its wake. In 2009, Guinea-Bissau was still struggling to rebuild after the civil war and make progress towards democratic reform. The country was led by President João Bernardo Vieira who had served as president since 1980 when he took power in a coup d’état. He was re-elected in 2005 but his rule was marked by corruption and nepotism which caused public discontent and protests against his government. The international community attempted to mediate between the government and opposition forces but these efforts were largely unsuccessful due to ongoing political infighting within both camps. Meanwhile, foreign aid from countries such as Portugal, France, China, Brazil and Angola helped prop up Guinea-Bissau’s fragile economy but it was not enough to bring about lasting stability or development. As of 2009, Guinea-Bissau remained politically unstable with no clear path forward towards sustainable democracy or economic development. Political infighting between rival factions – including President Vieira’s supporters and those of former Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior – continued to hamper attempts at reform while poverty levels remained high with many citizens lacking access to basic services such as healthcare or education. Check mathgeneral for Guinea-Bissau in 2017.