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Burkina Faso

Bilingual Education

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In 2024

5,910

children benefited from a quality education

184

teachers were trained in our pedagogy

83

trainers were trained

Improving the Quality of Basic Education

Since 2017, Enfants du Monde has been working with the Ministry of National Education, Literacy and Promotion of National Languages of Burkina Faso and our local partners to improve the quality of education in a sustainable way in around 10% of bilingual public schools by training teachers and creating teaching materials.

 

Our Impact

Between 2021 and 2024:

  • 9,040 students will have access to the 34 bilingual primary schools supported by Enfants du Monde;
  • 166 teachers and 34 school principals will be trained in active teaching methods;
  • 30 teacher trainers will receive continuing education;
  • 170 members of school management committees (including parents) will be supported by Enfants du Monde;
  • 94.5% of children attending the schools we support will reach the last year of primary school (nationally, only 56% complete their schooling).

Adma, Student in Burkina Faso

It helps me to be able to use Mooré, my mother tongue, especially for reading. Later, I would like to become a teacher.

Teaching in French and the Local Language to Facilitate Learning

For nearly 20 years, bilingual primary schools have been developed in Burkina Faso to facilitate learning: lessons are taught in French, the country’s official language, and in the local language spoken by children in the region. Bilingual schools incorporate practical activities tailored to the daily lives of pupils, as well as content related to indigenous cultural values. The community is involved in setting up and running the schools. Finally, the length of schooling is reduced to five years instead of six in traditional schools.

There are now nearly 300 bilingual schools. Since 2007, they have been under the authority of the Ministry of National Education, Literacy and Promotion of National Languages of Burkina Faso. The results of these schools have gradually deteriorated, leading to a decline in interest from parents and communities. To remedy this situation, the Ministry of Education has been calling on the support of our Swiss NGO since 2017 as part of its Programme to Support the Improvement of Bilingual Schools (PAEB).

Tiemtoré Zénabou, Head Teacher, bilingual school in Pabré

My heartfelt plea is that the government ensures that this approach is implemented so that its achievements can be capitalised on with a view to rolling it out nationwide. For my part, I have planned a general meeting with the educational community to discuss this educational innovation.

Improving the Quality of Education in a Sustainable Manner

Enfants du Monde is active in 154 classes in 34 bilingual public schools (data for 2021) in four regions: Centre, Centre-Ouest, Centre-Sud and Plateau Central.

Our specialists in Geneva and in the field work to strengthen the capacities of local training teams in order to ensure the sustainability of our work. These teams then train teachers and school principals.

Our NGO also reviews existing textbooks and designs and provides new, high-quality materials (textbooks for students and guides for teachers) that incorporate aspects of sustainable development and children’s rights, a culture of peace and gender equality.

During the first three years of the programme, from 2017 to 2020, encouraging results were observed in teaching practices.

Influencing Bilingual Education on a Larger Scale

The programme implemented by Enfants du Monde aims not only to improve the quality of education in bilingual schools but also to disseminate this educational approach so that it can be implemented throughout the national education system.

By 2025, the goal is for the Ministry of Education of Burkina Faso to draw inspiration from the principles of quality education promoted by Enfants du Monde (contextualisation, interculturality, interdisciplinarity, multilingualism and active teaching methods) and to use Enfants du Monde’s approaches and tools as a reference. This is why Enfants du Monde is working closely with its local partners to implement and evaluate the programme, thereby facilitating the integration of these actions into the national education system.

Project Photos

Contact our Team

In Switzerland
Enfants du Monde
Rue de Varembé 1
1202 Geneva
Tel. +41 22 798 88 81
Email: info@edm.ch

In Burkina Faso
Sahelian Africa Coordination Office
01 BP 1793 Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso

Tougma Téné Sankara
Phone. +226 25 36 08 46
Email : edmsahel@fasonet.bf

Financial Partners

Local Partners

My donation Makes a Difference

For example:

With 70 francs:

I offer 10 Burkina Faso children a bilingual schoolbook in French and Mooré, which will enable them to better progress.

With 150 francs:

I offer ongoing training in bilingual teaching to 6 teachers in Burkina Faso, in order to improve the quality of their teaching.

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