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
According to DIGOPAUL, 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.
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.
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