Politicians and educational reform in French-speaking West Africa: a comparative study of Mali and Ivory Coast

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Periodical article

Title:	Politicians and educational reform in French-speaking West Africa: a comparative study of Mali and Ivory Coast
Author:	Obichere, Boniface I.
Year:	1979
Periodical:	The Conch: A Biafran Journal of Literary and Cultural Analysis
Volume:	11
Issue:	1-2
Pages:	196-210
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Mali Ivory Coast - Côte d'Ivoire
Subjects:	political ideologies educational policy
Abstract:	Mali and the Ivory Coast are the two cases in a comparative analysis of political ideology and its translation into educational policy statements. The revolutionary and socialist philosophies of Modibo Keita (first president of Mali) and his henchmen resulted in the creation of a brand new educational system for Mali, which aims to broaden education in general, in order to foster equality rather than to create elites. On the other hand, the conservative, capitalist and cautious philosophy of Houphouet-Boigny (president of the Ivory Coast) and his followers prevented them from making any appreciable changes in the colonial system of education which they inherited from France and which is geared toward the production of an elite to rum the country. Ref. Commentary by Vera L. Zolberg on p. 211-216.