In the Ivorian villages of Bakaridougou and Assoumankro, schools are changing and hope is rising. Thanks to new infrastructure and community engagement, supported by school management committee and the CLEF coalition, which brings together the government of Côte d’Ivoire, 16 cocoa and chocolate companies, and two philanthropic foundations, children are learning in better conditions and parents are believing in the future.
It’s a rainy morning, but the courtyard of Assoumankro Public Primary School is buzzing with energy. Located about 50 kilometers from Soubré down a rough dirt road, the school is hosting a significant gathering. Children, parents, teachers, and members of the school management committee – COGES as per the French acronym – have all come together. The goal: to inform the community about upcoming construction projects and urge them to get involved – not just in these constructions, but in school life more broadly.
Excitement grows over school construction
The needs are evident. The existing classrooms are overcrowded and were built with temporary materials. Basic infrastructure – such as latrines and handwashing stations – is entirely lacking. Unfortunately, this situation is not unique. According to a 2021 report from the Ministry of National Education, 14.5% of classrooms in rural areas were in poor condition, and 17.9% were built with temporary materials.
During a recent visit in Assoumankro, ministry representatives identified these deficiencies and committed to helping through the CLEF funding mechanism. The plan includes constructing six new classrooms, an office for the school principal, latrines, a water well, a fence and providing solar panels. The news brings relief to Olivier Dibi Brou, the school principal and vice president of the local COGES. “Working in the current conditions and trying to provide a decent learning experience for our 170 students isn’t easy. This project is a huge relief for the entire community,” he says.
While construction crews are eagerly awaited by the community, the real focus of the COGES meeting lead by its bureau is to remind everyone that school is essential. That it is important to get involved in discussions about its future, to attend parent-teacher meetings, join in school improvement efforts – and above all, ensure that every child in the village attends class.
Marie-Louise Kouamé Amoin, mother of two girls and the women’s representative on the COGES, is particularly vigilant about school attendance. “I never had the chance to go to school myself, so I know how important it is for my children. I visit every household to make sure all the children, especially girls, are going to school. That wasn’t always the norm.”
Her commitment is encouraging for Jean-Paul Yehi, COGES advisor at the Soubré Regional Directorate of Education. “It’s inspiring to see an entire community rally around their school. Without that, nothing can really move forward.” When communities are fully engaged, results follow. A recent UNICEF study in Côte d’Ivoire confirmed a positive correlation between community support and school performance.
A Positive Outlook
In Bakaridougou, also about 50 kilometers from Soubré but along a smoother ride, progress made in the same projects is clearly visible thanks to CLEF support and COGES involvement. Despite the stormy weather, while the 194 students take their exams, construction crews are hard at work. With the fence wall completed, they have moved on to building three new classrooms and latrines. “These new classrooms will allow us to welcome more students and offer them better learning conditions,” says Principal Silué Donikpoho, who also serves as the school’s COGES vice-president. “We now truly believe that our school can become a center of excellence thanks to these improvements.”
That ambition is shared by the COGES team, who meet regularly to monitor progress. As Roméo Koffi – a first-grade teacher and deputy treasurer of the COGES – explains: “We’re responsible for selecting contractors, managing the finances, and overseeing the construction. We’re doing everything we can to make sure CLEF’s investment helps us meet our goals.” To support COGES members like Roméo, the Ministry of Education and CLEF organized a series of trainings focused on contract awarding and financial management.
CLEF is also supporting COGES advisors from regional education offices, who provide guidance to local committees. These advisors receive training and, importantly, motorbikes to help them travel to remote schools. For Silué Katienefohoua, COGES advisor for Bakaridougou, the support is invaluable. “I visit 62 schools regularly, many of them in hard-to-reach areas, especially during the rainy season. The support from the Ministry and CLEF, especially the motorbike, has greatly improved my ability to do my job.”
Communities Driving Change
In both Bakaridougou and Assoumankro, school is changing – and with it, hope is returning. With new, fully equipped infrastructure, students are learning in better, more motivating conditions. Enrollment is rising. Children show up eagerly each morning, and in their parents’ eyes, there’s a renewed belief in a better future – for them, their children, and their entire village.
This transformation is no coincidence. It’s a clear example of what becomes possible when a community takes ownership of education—and when that effort is being supported.
CLEF is a commitment to:
- Get more children into school.
- Make sure children learn at school.
- Achieve impact at scale; we want to make a difference in the lives of more than 4 million children by 2027.
CLEF funds school infrastructure and childcare facilities, supports teacher training in evidence-based pedagogical techniques, promotes behavior change so parents engage in their children’s education and apply good parenting practices to boost early childhood development, and tests a cutting-edge school nutrition program.
CLEF welcomes new partners: contact us to learn more about the initiative and to get involved.
