Niger - Education

The educational system is patterned on that of France, but changes are gradually being introduced to adapt the curriculum to local needs and traditions. Programs aim at expanding the educational system in order to reduce the adult illiteracy rate, which in the year 2000 still stands at 84.3% (males 76.5%; females, 91.7%). As of 1999, public expenditure on education was estimated at 2.7% of GDP.

Schooling is compulsory for children aged 7–15. In 1997–98, there were 3,175 primary schools with 11,545 teachers and 482,065 pupils. The pupil-teacher ratio at the primary level was 41 to 1 in 1999. In the same year, 21% of primary-school-age children were enrolled in school, while 6% of those eligible attended secondary school. While primary schooling lasts for six years, secondary lasts for seven years. In 1997, there were 96,675 pupils in secondary schools, taught by 3,579 teachers. Of these, 95,530 were in general secondary; 1,340 in teacher training courses, and 805 were in vocational schools.

In 1991–92, 4,513 students were enrolled in institutions of higher education, with 232 teachers. In 1963, the National School of Administration was founded in Niamey. The University of Niamey, founded in 1973, has schools of the sciences, letters, education, mathematics, agriculture, health, economics, and social sciences. The Islamic University of West Africa at Say, mostly financed by the Organization of the Islamic Conference, was inaugurated in 1987.