Sub-Saharan Africa

Benin

Access and quality are the two major issues in education in Benin. At present, half the female population of school- going age is denied their fundamental right to education. The country’s burden of foreign debt and a high incidence of child labour in the country has meant that little real progress has successfully been made in working towards closing the gender gap in the country. In two southern cities alone, of the more than 100,000 6-14 year-olds working as domestic servants 85% are female. These girls, along with thousands of other working children in the country, are not registered in school. The government in Benin has recently made girls in rural areas exempt from paying school fees, but this has not impacted greatly upon school enrollment levels.

Primary Education

Primary School Enrolment Ratio (gross 1995-2001) Primary School Enrolment Ratio (net 1995-2001) Net Primary School Attendance (%) (1992-2001*) % of Primary School entrants reaching Grade5 (1995-2001*) % Gender Gap (net male – net female) Male Female Male Female Male Female     103 69 83 57 52 34 64 18

Adult Literacy Ratio (2000)

Take urgent action and send a report card to your Minister of Education Damien Zinsou Alahassa Ministre de l’Education Nationale et de la Recherche Scientifique B.P. 520 Cotonou Benin [ Download Report Card ]