"Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world".

General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguéma was undoubtedly inspired by this martial statement by Nelson Mandela, and took the first key measures to inaugurate the first year of the new Gabon in the education sector. These measures coincided with the start of the new school year: restoration of scholarships for secondary school pupils, free enrolment fees in public and religious schools, and the provision of 1,000 budgetary posts for teachers who had previously been on pre-salary.

These measures have been warmly applauded by the entire educational community and, above all, by many parents, who have seen their children's school fees lightened as a result. And, alongside the destitute families, a sigh of relief for the multitude of associations and NGOs who, year in, year out, mobilize to provide schooling for children who, without them, would never know the joys of a school bench or the delights of a playground. With limited resources, no official recognition as a public service organization, and only their faith and a rosary of prayers in their armbands, these civil society organizations scour the often under-integrated neighborhoods before the start of each new school year, looking for toddlers who have been forced out of the education system by poverty. And so begins the obstacle course to enlist the help of kind-hearted souls to mobilize resources, assemble school kits and negotiate places in schools, preferably public ones, that are already saturated.

Because, my General, the other variable in the equation concerns childcare facilities. While the Education Sector Investment Project (PISE) implemented by the Gabonese government and the Agence française de développement (afd) has, to some extent, increased intake capacity in the Estuaire region, the work announced, particularly for the economic capital, Port-Gentil, has yet to materialize. And what can we say about the inclusion of children living with disabilities, whose inclusive schooling is still on hold?

The municipal children's rights week organized in November 2022 in Port-Gentil, a candidate city for the "Child-Friendly City" label, by Unicef, the Ministry of Human Rights, the Port-Gentil town council and players in the child protection system in the Ogooué-Maritime region, highlighted the long road that our country needs to take in providing schooling for disabled children, if Gabon is to live up to the obligations it has undertaken, including with regard to the international community, on these social cases.

General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguéma made a comment in the course of his speech: he couldn't imagine ten-year-olds not attending school. It is to be hoped that these words have not fallen on deaf ears.

Providing schooling for all children, whether "normal" or disabled, is one of the major challenges facing our country. Some will say that it's expensive, even very expensive. But we should ponder the words of Abraham Lincoln: "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance".

Fidèle AFANOU EDEMBE

Port-Gentil/Gabon