Title: Back to school 2023 in Gabon: free tuition fees which relieve families
Introduction :
Every year, the start of the school year is an important time for families and students. In Gabon, the year 2023 marks a significant novelty: free tuition fees for secondary school students. This social measure was announced by General Oligui Nguema, president of the Transition, with the aim of lightening the financial burden on Gabonese families. How is this free experience experienced? What are the impacts on the start of the school year in Gabon?
Families relieved by free tuition fees:
When the doors of the Léon Mba public high school in Libreville opened, many families dropped off their children. This year, free tuition has given many parents a financial break. Emmanuel, father of three children and responsible for his nephews and nieces, testifies: “We received this gratuity which makes us a lot lighter. Personally, it practically saves me around 70,000 CFA francs.” This measure therefore has a significant economic impact for Gabonese families.
An easier return to school for students:
Free tuition fees also allowed families to better prepare for the return of students. Monicka, a final year student, recounts how her mother was relieved: “She had time to buy me my notebooks, to buy my school supplies. It really helped a lot.” Thanks to this measure, parents can concentrate on purchasing school supplies, without having to worry about administrative costs.
A social measure experienced as necessary:
While some qualify free tuition as a populist measure, the majority of parents consider it a necessary social measure in the current context. Rose Elvire, mother of a second-year student, explains: “It is important because there are parents who have five children. It was difficult. It was a bit of a relief to the families who no longer knew where give head.” This measure therefore helps to relieve families who, often faced with financial difficulties, were struggling to cover their children’s school fees.
Conclusion :
The 2023 school year in Gabon is marked by a strong social measure: free tuition for secondary school students. This decision by the President of the Transition, intended to ease the financial burden on Gabonese families, was greeted with relief by many parents. Thanks to this free service, families can better prepare for students’ return to school and concentrate on purchasing school supplies. This social measure, although criticized by some, is seen as necessary by the majority of parents.