On Monday, September 11, 2023, we held out our microphone to parents of students who are currently racing to find space for their children.
Nobila Mariam Maïga/Ouédraogo, parent of student
“The start of the school year should be a happy event for parents and students but…”
Unfortunately, this is a time of intense stress, especially for parents. We usually go shopping a few days before school starts for supplies. There are registrations and re-registrations which are added to this.
Also, financial means put pressure on more than one of us. This same pressure causes parents to issue warnings that amount to threats towards their children. Let me explain: some parents have the habit of threatening their children by telling them, do you see the suffering you are causing me because of school? If you don’t do well at school, you will see your punishment. However, the child did not ask you to go to school, you are the parent who wants to enroll him, you must give him the pleasure of going to school. By telling him for example: you see my son/daughter, I am making efforts so that you can go to school. In turn, you must make me proud of you by doing well in school, staying good and storing your supplies well.
When it comes to purchasing supplies, it is desirable that we purchase the majority of supplies during the holidays. Right now, prices are affordable, not many customers, so less stress. Save for school instead of waiting for the start of the school year and wanting to pay all the costs. Happy school year to the entire educational community. Our thoughts are with the internally displaced students and their families. May peace and security return to Faso.
Abdoulaye Konaté, trader, parent
“Currently, finding a place for your child is not easy”
Personally, for several days I have been running everywhere. Times are difficult, we don’t have the means to go to the private sector either. What often discourages us is that we make all these sacrifices but once the child is at school, he doesn’t want to work, he becomes an “MC” or a recalcitrant. It’s difficult, I don’t even know where to put my head. We fight for the children, but they ignore this. We want them to be responsible in the future.
Catherine Midjour/Soulama, parent of students
“It’s very difficult for us parents”
The quest for places is not easy. This year with the high cost of living, everything has gone up. We have to make enormous sacrifices to register the children, pay for the outfits, the uniforms.
My advice to students is to work hard in order to succeed at the end of the year for the satisfaction of us who are their parents.
Clément Kaboré, parent of student
“This back to school is truly an extraordinary year”
This is a year that is unlike any other, given the security crisis. As parents, we are working hard to be able to register our children. Which makes it not an easy task for everyone, especially when you are the only one in your family taking care of the students. When we look at the state of the displaced, it is true that the State is making a lot of efforts to support them, but it is not easy. School supplies have completely doubled. There are items that we paid 100 FCFA for, now it has become 150 FCFA, it’s not easy for us parents. I invite the students to work harder. Despite parents’ efforts, some students go to school to have fun.
François Bayala, driver, parent
” It’s not simple “
Everything is expensive with insecurity, it becomes more problems for us. I would like the State to try to work with the founders of private establishments so that they can reduce prices according to the current context, otherwise it is not easy. We sacrifice ourselves for the children, a child who is conscious does not need to be told he has to work.
Interview by
Besseri Frédéric OUATTARA/ Banfora
