To enable students at the Eticoon Modern College (Tiassalé sub-prefecture) to take the Junior High School Certificate (BEPC) exam under the best possible conditions, a local official offered them over a month of intensive boarding. A life-saving initiative for the school's very first graduating class.

An exceptional setup for a first graduating class

On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, the written exams for the BEPC (Brevet d'Études du Premier Cycle) began under the best possible conditions for the candidates in Eticoon, a village located on the road to Divo. And for good reason: since April 13, the 22 ninth-grade students from the school, joined by three independent candidates from the village, have been undergoing exceptional preparation.

At the initiative of Emmanuel Ahoutou Koffi , Minister-Director of the Cabinet of the Vice-President of the Republic and a native of the area, these 25 young people were housed in a peaceful setting within the school itself. Divided into two separate pavilions (one for girls and one for boys), they benefited from continuous educational supervision, day and night, under the watchful eye of the teachers and the head of the boarding school, Yao Kouamé Ezéchiel.

No more chores, time for studying and comfort

This temporary relocation has radically changed the daily lives of the students, many of whom come from the surrounding villages:

1. Sankara Karidjatou (originally from Brahimakro) previously had to walk six kilometers every day. Exhausted by evening, she could no longer study. Since entering boarding school, her grades have skyrocketed.
2. Brou Grâce Esther , who lived with a guardian, sometimes struggled to eat at midday. "Since the move to the countryside, I eat three meals a day, sometimes with fruit for dessert," she confides, now feeling calm about her exams.

A teaching staff mobilized body and soul

For Sidoine Abo, a Physics-Chemistry and Life and Earth Sciences teacher, guiding this first graduating class in the school's history is a source of pride. Like his colleagues, he volunteers his time at night to supervise revisions, correct practice exercises, and fill in the students' knowledge gaps.

At the helm of this project is the principal of the college, Diamouténé Adidiata . This boarding school is the realization of a strong promise made by Minister Emmanuel Ahoutou Koffi during the "National Education Conference" in Eticoon.

"The beginnings were not easy due to the diversity of everyone's habits," admits the principal, while acknowledging the indispensable support of the students' parents.

More than just preparation, a school of life

Beyond academic revision, this retreat to the countryside turned into a true human adventure. The students learned about community life, dormitory maintenance, ironing, and eco-citizenship.

As for Ms. Diamouténé, she spares no effort. A motivational coach, a substitute biology teacher, and a true mother figure, she readily shares meals with the students or spends the night at the boarding school since the start of the exams. For this total dedication, she expressed her profound gratitude to the village's benefactor, Emmanuel Ahoutou Koffi.