The Burkina Faso government has initiated a program to promote civism, patriotism, and responsible digital use among students. On November 13, 2026, Minister of Secondary Education, Technical and Vocational Training, Moumouni Zoungrana, officially launched the school conferences at the Aboubacar Sangoulé Lamizana National Technical High School in Ouagadougou. The conferences aim to educate students on three main themes: civism and patriotism, the ideals of the RPP, and responsible digital use.
The initiative seeks to make schools a space for training citizens and promoting patriotic engagement. According to Minister Zoungrana, the program is crucial in preparing young generations to participate actively in national construction. He emphasized that a country's development relies on citizens who share common values and are attached to their homeland. The minister also stressed the importance of individual responsibility in preserving social cohesion and encouraged students to exercise discernment in their online interactions.
The conferences are designed for students in all Burkinabé schools and will cover the three main themes. The government aims to provide students with guidelines to better understand civism, patriotism, and RPP orientations. Minister Zoungrana highlighted the risks associated with the misuse of digital tools, which can expose young people to harmful behaviors. He encouraged students to use digital tools responsibly and as a means of learning and opening up to the world.
Orange Burkina Faso, a partner in the initiative, has reaffirmed its commitment to education in digital literacy. Alimata Touré-Yao, representing the company, emphasized that citizen education and digital user education are now closely linked. She drew attention to the risks of misinformation, hate speech, cyberbullying, and exposure of personal data on digital platforms. The Orange Burkina Faso Foundation plans to support the initiative through four main axes, including promoting responsible digital use in extracurricular activities and organizing workshops during school breaks.
The conferences are set to be deployed in all schools across the country, with the goal of bringing awareness messages closer to students and encouraging their appropriation in their daily environment. By combining civism, patriotism, and digital responsibility, the Ministry of Education aims to integrate citizen education into the training of young generations. This initiative is expected to help strengthen social cohesion and promote a sense of national belonging among students.
The program is a collaborative effort between the government, Orange Burkina Faso, and other stakeholders. The Fondation Orange Burkina Faso, through Orange Digital Center, will provide support for the initiative, including training teachers and relay supervisors, as well as involving parents and school administrations in awareness-raising actions. By working together, the partners hope to empower students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become responsible and engaged citizens.
The launch of the school conferences marks an important step in the government's efforts to promote citizen education and responsible digital use among young people. The initiative is expected to have a positive impact on the country's social cohesion and development. As Minister Zoungrana emphasized, "You cannot develop a country with women and men who do not love their country."
Key points
- The Burkina Faso government has launched school conferences on civism, patriotism, and the ideals of the Revolutionary People's Party (RPP) to promote citizen consciousness and responsible digital use among students.
