Guinea – education
Education in the 1990s Guinea is public and free. The French-language education system includes a six-year primary school, which begins in the cities when the children are six years old, in the countryside later; it is followed by approx. 40% (1991). The primary and lower secondary school examination provides access to a seven-year superstructure consisting of a four-year and a three-year course, followed by resp. 12% and 5%. Examination after the 1st part gives access to the 2nd part or to further education in vocational education. Higher education consists of 5-6-year university degrees.
Since 1984, teaching throughout the school system has been in French, but with local languages in mind. Efforts are underway to increase participation in primary school, keep students in the superstructure and reduce the number of illiterates, which amounts to approx. 70% of all adults over the age of 15 (1993).
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Guinea
CAPITAL CITY: Conakry
POPULATION: 11,470,000 (Source: COUNTRYaah)
AREA: 245,800 km²
OFFICIAL/OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: French, fulani, malinka and approximately 25 other Nigerian-Kordofan languages
RELIGION: Muslims 85%, Christians 8%, natives’ religions 7%
CURRENCY: guinea franc
CURRENCY CODE: GNF
ENGLISH NAME: guinea
INDEPENDENCE: 1958
POPULATION COMPOSITION: fulani 40%, malinke 26%, susu 11%, kissi 7%, kpelle 5%, other 11%
GDP PER CAPITA INH.: $ 492 (2011)
LIFE EXPECTANCY: men 58 years, women 61 years (2007)
LIVING CONDITIONS INDEX, HDI: 0392
LIVING CONDITIONS INDEX, POSITION: 179
INTERNET DOMAIN NAME: .GN
Guinea, (of the Berberian Ignave, plur. Of agnaw ‘black man’), former French Guinea, is a Republic of West Africa, former French colony; sometimes the term Guinea-Conakry is used to separate the country from the smaller neighbor, Guinea-Bissau. After independence in 1958, the country was known for many years as a closed and authoritarian controlled country; much has changed in the 1990’s, but it remains among the world’s poorest countries.
- AbbreviationFinder.org: Find two-letter abbreviation for each independent country and territory, such as GV which stands for Guinea.
Guinea – religion
Approximately 85% of the population are Muslims; this percentage has been rising as people from the traditional religions become Muslims, not least as a result of the influence of the dominant Sufi brothers. About 8% of the population are Christians. Check youremailverifier for Guinea social condition facts.
Guinea – Constitution
The Republic’s Constitution is from 1991 with an amendment from 1992 allowing an unlimited number of political parties (in 1995 there were 45 officially recognized). The legislative power lies with the National Assembly with 114 members, elected by ordinary direct election for 5 years. A mixture of one-man constituencies and national lists seeks to achieve an equal regional distribution. The executive has the president, who is also elected by universal suffrage for 7 years. If no candidate obtains an absolute majority, re-election shall be held between the two candidates who have received the most votes. The President appoints and chairs a Council of Ministers.
Guinea – music
Guinea’s music falls into four regions, between which instruments, vocal style and structure vary. The country was a pioneer in African cultural policy in the 1950s and provided support for music through the creation of national ensembles such as Bembaya Jazz and Les Ballets Africains. As a result of this policy, women are strongly represented in contemporary music, in the orchestra Les Amazones de Guinée. Musician and singer Mory Kanté has had great international success with world music with roots in the West African griot tradition.
