The NGO Éducation, formation, développement-Côte d’Ivoire (EFODEV-CI) recently held a ceremony in Abidjan to reward 56 students from the four regional education departments of Abidjan for their outstanding results in the CEPE, BEPC, and baccalauréat exams for the 2025-2026 academic year.
The ceremony also paid tribute to 50 retired agents from the central and decentralized services of the Ministry of National Education. The event, themed "Le mérite aujourd’hui, l’excellence pour demain" (Merit today, excellence tomorrow), aimed to promote academic excellence and acknowledge the contributions of personnel who have dedicated their careers to the education system.
Koné Adama, an inspector of school life, represented the president of EFODEV-CI, Guichard Konan, and praised the efforts, discipline, and perseverance of the distinguished students. He also highlighted the role of parents, teachers, and mentors in their success and encouraged them to continue their studies with ambition and responsibility.
Adama expressed the organization's recognition for the retirees' contributions to the education system and noted that this initiative aimed to both encourage young generations and honor those who have participated in their formation. Diomandé Maférima, secretary-general of the Abidjan 2 regional education department, welcomed the initiative and urged agents nearing retirement to maintain their professional commitment until the end of their careers.
Coulibaly Patrice, a retired English teacher and former director of the Lycée international Descartes, spoke on behalf of the honored retirees and expressed his joy at this recognition. He emphasized that teaching should be considered a vocation requiring a commitment to the success and training of students.
Patrice also called for the perpetuation of such initiatives and wished the new retirees good health and serenity in this stage of their lives. Aïkpa Eliel, one of the rewarded students, admitted to the baccalauréat series E with 343 points, expressed gratitude to the organizers for this distinction, which acknowledges the efforts made during the academic year.
The ceremony also featured a conference by Yéfé Pacôme, under-director in charge of the protection and promotion of elderly people at the Ministry of Employment, Social Protection, and Professional Training. Pacôme discussed the living conditions of elderly people, including their economic and financial security, access to healthcare, social assistance, and the protection of their rights.
Key points
- EFODEV-CI rewards students for academic excellence and honors retirees for their dedication to the education sector.
- The ceremony aimed to promote academic excellence and recognize the contributions of personnel who have dedicated their careers to the education system.
- The event featured a conference on the living conditions of elderly people, including their security, access to healthcare, and social assistance.
