On September 24, 2026, the Gabonese Minister of State for National Education, Camélia Ntoutoume Leclercq, opened a 3-day workshop at the Institute for Education and Training (IFME) in Libreville. The workshop aims to develop guidelines for educational planners in Gabon's education system. The event, which runs from September 23 to 25, brings together stakeholders to discuss the role of planners in improving the country's education sector. The Minister emphasized the importance of qualified planners in producing, analyzing, and exploiting reliable data to enhance education planning.
The workshop seeks to strengthen the education system by training a new generation of planners, revising the statutory framework, and establishing an integrated education data management system. Minister Leclercq highlighted the critical role of planners in understanding the education system, anticipating needs, and guiding resource allocation. She noted that planners are the "invisible pillars" of the education system, responsible for maintaining its memory, analyzing the present, and shaping its future.
The UNESCO representative in Gabon, Patricio Zambrano Restrepo, reaffirmed the organization's commitment to supporting Gabon in professionalizing educational planning. He emphasized the importance of developing guidelines tailored to the national context and establishing certification to enhance planners' analytical, prospective, and decision-making capacities. Zambrano Restrepo noted that strengthening educational planning enables countries to understand their education systems, anticipate needs, and allocate resources effectively.
The Director-General of IFME, Professor Gilbert Endamne, welcomed the revival of planner training, which had been dormant for over two decades. He believes this initiative will enhance national competencies in data collection, analysis, and school mapping. Endamne praised the workshop for revitalizing the image of education planning, aligning with Gabon's education system transformation.
The workshop is part of Gabon's legislative framework, specifically laws n°20/92 and n°013/2025, which govern education sector personnel and establish the IFME. During the 3-day event, participants will work on developing four guidelines for educational planners, covering their role, competencies, training, and evaluation. A bureau has been established to oversee the workshop and coordinate its activities.
The workshop's expected outcome is the formulation of recommendations to improve educational planning in Gabon. The guidelines developed will aim to enhance planners' capacities to analyze data, anticipate needs, and inform decision-making. This initiative aligns with Gabon's efforts to transform its education system and improve learning outcomes.
The event demonstrates the collaboration between Gabon's education ministry, UNESCO, and other stakeholders to strengthen the country's education sector. By investing in educational planning, Gabon aims to build a more effective and efficient education system that meets the needs of its citizens.
Key points
- The workshop aims to develop guidelines for educational planners to improve Gabon's education sector.
- UNESCO supports Gabon in professionalizing educational planning through tailored guidelines and certification.
- The initiative seeks to strengthen national competencies in data collection, analysis, and school mapping.
