Mauritania's Minister of Education and Educational Reform, Dr. Huda Bent Babah, announced that the country's public education system currently comprises 3,955 primary schools, accommodating 768,179 students and employing 20,519 teachers. This data was revealed during a press conference held on Wednesday evening. The minister highlighted the significance of these numbers in understanding the current state of education in Mauritania.
The country's secondary education sector consists of 396 institutions, enrolling 205,028 students and staffed by 7,639 teachers. This represents a substantial portion of the country's educational infrastructure. The minister's statement provided an overview of the education sector, emphasizing the government's efforts to improve and expand educational opportunities.
In addition to public schools, Mauritania has 1,038 private schools, which are attended by 243,274 students. This indicates a significant presence of private education providers in the country. The coexistence of public and private schools offers parents and students a range of educational choices.
The Ministry of Education has made significant strides in infrastructure development, receiving 575 new classrooms in 2026, bringing the total number of classrooms received since 2019 to 6,173. Furthermore, work is underway to complete an additional 3,340 classrooms. These new facilities will help address the growing demand for educational spaces.
The education sector has also seen an increase in the number of teachers, with 2,283 new recruits for the current academic year. This brings the total number of teachers hired since 2019 to 15,729, not including the latest batch of 3,852 teachers announced by the ministry. The government's efforts to bolster the teaching workforce aim to enhance the quality of education.
In support of students and teachers, the ministry has provided 165,350 units of uniform school attire and 1,738 scholarships, benefiting 249,461 students, which represents a coverage rate of 45.23% in primary schools. Additionally, the National Pedagogical Institute received 1.8 million textbooks at the beginning of 2026 and is set to receive 1.4 million more, having already distributed 1.2 million textbooks.
The ministry has also prioritized teacher training and support, with 4,864 teachers and educational supervisors benefiting from specialized training programs this year. Moreover, 1,372 teachers have received assistance from the Teacher Housing Support Fund. These initiatives demonstrate the government's commitment to improving the education sector and supporting its workforce.
Key points
- The public education system in Mauritania has 3,955 primary schools, enrolling 768,179 students and employing 20,519 teachers.
