The Lycée Moderne de Bocanda, situated in the N’Zi region of central-eastern Ivory Coast, is facing a severe shortage of teaching staff, particularly in science subjects, school authorities have revealed.
Principal Doulaye Silué told AIP on Monday, 22 September 2025, that the school urgently requires eight additional teachers: five for mathematics, two for physics and chemistry, and one for life and earth sciences (SVT).
“The shortage also affects English, where we need one teacher, and physical education, where one instructor is required,” Silué added.
He warned that if the gaps are not addressed, 68 classes in the lower cycle and four in the upper cycle will be deprived of instruction in these subjects, resulting in the loss of 178 teaching hours each week.
“This situation has persisted for years. It directly impacts the quality of education provided to our students and negatively affects our examination results,” the principal said, stressing the long-term consequences for academic performance.
The Lycée Moderne de Bocanda currently enrols 3,661 students, supported by a teaching staff of 70 for the 2025-2026 school year. The school is considered a key educational institution in the region, and the ongoing staffing shortages threaten its ability to maintain high academic standards.
Education officials have yet to announce specific measures to resolve the crisis, leaving teachers and students struggling to deliver and receive quality education.
Parents and community members have expressed concern about the impact on students’ learning and exam performance, urging authorities to prioritise recruitment and ensure that essential subjects are adequately covered.
The situation at Bocanda reflects wider challenges in Ivory Coast’s education sector, where teacher shortages in rural and regional schools continue to hamper efforts to provide equitable and high-quality education nationwide.
With examination results and student futures at stake, the school community is calling for immediate action to fill the vacancies and restore normal teaching operations.
About The Author
