The Minister in charge of National Education and the Minister in charge of Higher Education as well as the President of the Transitional Legislative Assembly, proceeded on October 2, 2023, to the official launch of the 2023-2024 school and academic year. The starting signal was given at the Koudougou Provincial High School in the Center-West.
A few bells ring out this October 2, 2023 in the courtyard of the Koudougou provincial high school. In charge, Professor Adjima Thiombiano, Minister responsible for Higher Education, that of National Education, André Joseph Ouédraogo and Dr Ousmane Bougouma, President of the Transitional Legislative Assembly. Thus, the 2023-2024 school and academic year has just been launched. Dr Bougouma took the opportunity to greet the actors of the educational community. This return to school, he says, is placed under the sign of resilience and education “who works for peace“. Special mention to teachers especially, to hear it. Because with the reconquest of certain parts of the national territory, the latter are called to return to their post and to contribute to reducing ignorance, intolerance and above all to bring light and hope.
Heartaches because of all these closed schools
The student representative says he is happy with the resumption of activities, but with a pang in his heart, because of all these schools closed due to insecurity. He regrets that thousands of their comrades are deprived of their right to education because of this situation. His wish is that they return to school as quickly as possible because “every child we teach is a man we gain», he convinces himself. Fayçal Da found in this forum a godsend to launch a heartfelt cry towards the authorities. He wants a better learning condition in the field of education at all levels. On behalf of all his comrades, Fayçal Da made a commitment to work selflessly in discipline, good citizenship, respect for parents, teachers and authority.
Results achieved despite everything
During his address to this ceremony officially launching the start of the school and academic year, Joseph André Ouédraogo recognized that activities of this type are a springboard to take stock of the past year and to identify prospects for the new year. In this regard, as of May 31, 2023, six thousand one hundred and forty-nine educational structures were closed, announced the head of the national education department. According to him, faced with this situation, his department, with the support of partners, made efforts which made it possible to re-enroll two hundred and seventy-seven thousand five hundred and twenty-one students in the host establishments. Also thanks to the FDS, VDP and the educational community, five hundred and thirty-nine educational structures have reopened to date with a total of one hundred and twenty-one thousand, six hundred and forty-three students returning to class. He continues by saying that the baccalaureate graduates of the normal session of 2023 numbering fifty-one thousand one hundred and thirty-nine are oriented to the universities and university centers of the country. Referring to his remarks, efforts are really being made to allow national education to be at the best of its level.
Around 4,000,000 students on their way to school
For this 2023-2024 school year, nearly 4,000,000 students are returning to school. To all these pupils and students, the minister responsible for national education urged them to measure the efforts of the State, to take into account the sacrifice of their parents, the commitment of their teachers and the difficult context in which they find the country. All this so that these learners can deserve the hope that the Nation holds within them.
Meeting the challenges of this return to school alongside the authorities
Tiemoko Ouaro, representing the parents of students, first welcomed the authorities present, before making a commitment to take on the challenges of this school year alongside them, such as wearing school uniform in Faso Danfani. However, he did not fail to point out that each time the school year begins, they, parents of students, also face challenges. This concerns the problem of space, payment of schooling, the problem of means of transport, school supplies among others. Tiemoko Ouaro says that but “we face it with courage and dignity“. This ceremony was placed under the theme: “contribution of the educational community to the culture of peace, citizenship and social cohesion”. It was attended by the first authorities from the education and higher education departments of their partners such as UNICEF, as well as students and parents of students from the city of the red rider. Note also that the Transitional Legislative Assembly, through its first leader, handed over fourteen thousand school kits for the benefit of internally displaced students.
Abdoul-Karim Stephen SANON/Koudougou
