On October 7, 2026, the Ministers of Secondary Education and Technical Training, Pr Moumouni Zoungrana, and Basic Education, Literacy, and Promotion of National Languages, Jacques Sosthène Dingara, co-hosted a session of the "Dialogue with the People" activity at the SIAO in Ouagadougou. This event was part of the Government Expo, held during the second phase of the National Days of Patriotic Engagement and Civic Participation. The ministers presented reforms to the education system and addressed citizen concerns.
Minister Jacques Sosthène Dingara outlined actions taken to improve access to basic education, learning quality, and school governance. He mentioned the development of preschool education, recruitment of educators, and construction of new infrastructure, including R+3 buildings to optimize school space. Reforms also aim to integrate sociocultural and environmental realities into teaching programs, introducing English from CE1, and promoting civic and moral education.
The education reforms include introducing bilingual education and a "Month of Art and Culture" to help students connect with their cultural heritage. Minister Dingara emphasized the importance of non-formal education, productive activities, and school gardens to develop practical skills from a young age and contribute to food sovereignty. He also presented measures to improve governance, such as the establishment of school councils and the dematerialization of certain operations.
Minister Pr Moumouni Zoungrana explained that reforms in his department aim to form patriotic citizens with skills adapted to the country's needs. He highlighted the need for better articulation between general education, technical education, and vocational training. The goal is to increase the proportion of young people from technical and vocational streams to 60% by 2050, compared to around 5% currently.
Minister Zoungrana presented a program to reconvert higher education graduates to acquire practical skills in areas like agriculture, livestock, maintenance, and communication. He also announced the establishment of a national register of occupations, structured around 15 axes and listing around 2,250 occupations, to better define required skills and training pathways.
Citizens raised concerns about tuition fee regulation, career orientation, the role of the private sector, and school council functioning. The ministers explained that tuition fee regulation aims to limit unpredictable variations and that the first experience will be monitored and evaluated. They emphasized that school councils should involve the entire community in school functioning, with contributions based on individual capacities and real needs.
The ministers called for the mobilization of parents, teachers, and all actors to support the reforms and make education a lever for development and sovereignty. They invited citizens to propose improvements to the implemented systems, stressing that "we are here to serve you." The event demonstrated the government's commitment to education reform and its willingness to engage with citizens to achieve its goals.
Key points
- The Burkina Faso government has introduced reforms to improve access to education, learning quality, and governance in the education sector.
