• Updated manual modernizes methods, clarifies NGO and local authority roles

• 68% illiteracy persists; women in rural areas most affected, officials say
  

The Guinean government and its partners have launched a new initiative to improve literacy. Their goal is to help more than 2 million young people and adults learn to read and write by 2040.

The plan is supported by a newly approved procedural manual intended to align the work of technical and community actors, particularly in rural areas, according to a report by state broadcaster RTG shared on the Ministry of Pre-University Education and Literacy (MEPUA) Facebook page on Monday, Nov. 17.

The manual, first drafted in 2023, has been updated to modernize literacy methods and teaching tools. Momo Damba, National Director of Literacy, said the revision adapts the content to current needs and clarifies the roles of NGOs and local services.

The program also seeks to strengthen local governance by involving administrative authorities and training qualified personnel who can manage and carry out activities in the field.

Tackling High Illiteracy Rates

The initiative targets one of the country’s most persistent challenges. Guinea’s illiteracy rate has remained high at 68 percent since 2016, according to the National Institute of Statistics, cited by the MEPUA in 2024. Women account for more than 75 percent of the illiterate population, most of them living in rural areas.

The literacy effort comes as Guinea’s new constitution requires the use of national languages in public administration. Jean Paul Cedy, Minister of Pre-University Education and Literacy, said this transition will require mobilizing dedicated services to promote, develop, and support these languages so they become more accessible to learners.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou