FCFA 174.580 billion package will be used to consolidate the achievements of 2013. The Ministry of Basic Education is requesting a budget of FCFA 174.580 billion in 2014 with which it intends to carry out reforms that will render basic education universal. Basic Education Minister, Youssouf Hadidja Alim, says of the amount, FCFA 133 318 803 000, representing 76.37 per cent of the ministry's budget, will be used for the democratisation of the primary cycle.

Talking to the press after defending the package before the Budget and Finance Committee of the National on Tuesday night, the Basic Education Minister said through the democratisation programme, steps will be taken to reinforce access and retention in the primary cycle, improve the quality of education in primary schools, support girls to attend schools, implement cooperation contract with stakeholders of the private sector as well as reinforce partnership with organisations.

Other priority areas will be the improvement of the quality of basic education in primary schools to the tune of FCFA 1 899 762 000 through strengthening pedagogic monitoring in schools, the reduction of the pupil/teacher ration by recruiting 3,000 new teachers in 2014 as well as capacity building of teachers and sub-divisional inspectors. Minister Youssouf Hadidja Alim said her ministry equally plans to pursue the setting up of literacy policies and strategies within the framework of promoting literacy, non-formal basic education and the promotion of national languages. Support to the development of pre-school education as well as ensuring governance and institutional support, she said, will not be the least of things to do in the next fiscal year.