Ivory Coast: death of Lambert Amon Tanoh, the "father of the Ivorian school"

Lambert Amon Tanoh, Minister of Education in Côte d'Ivoire from 1963 to 1970. RFI / Pierre Pinto

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In Côte d'Ivoire, we learned this Thursday, January 13 the death of Lambert Amon Tanoh.

Former emblematic Minister of Education under Félix Houphouët-Boigny in the 1960s, he also had a long career as a trade unionist to his credit.

He succumbed to Covid at the age of 96. 

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With our correspondent in Abidjan

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Lambert Amon Tanoh began his career at the end of the 1940s in Bingerville as a teacher and trade unionist.

An activist of the PDCI, he is one of the architects of the National Union of Workers of Côte d'Ivoire.

At 31, he was chosen by Félix Houphouët-Boigny to be a deputy.

Lambert Amon Tanoh is also in the National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire on August 7, 1960

when the first Ivorian president proclaims the independence of his country.

Still a trade unionist, he was in charge of the merger of the 4 major trade unions into a single UGTCI in 1962, of which he was the first general secretary.

The following year Lambert Amon Tanoh was appointed Minister of National Education.

A portfolio he kept until 1970.

From television lessons to uniforms for young people

The former teacher built many colleges and high schools, introduced lessons on television.

Way, he said, to generalize the teaching and to overcome the shortcomings of certain teachers.

It is also to him that the young Ivorians owe to go to school dressed in a uniform.

The one who was often nicknamed the "father of the Ivorian school" did not however spare his criticisms against the current Ivorian education system, deploring in particular a neglected teacher training.

“

, ”he denounced a year and a half ago at our microphone. 

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• Ivory Coast