Dedougou: As part of the national “Back To School” campaign led by UNICEF, around fifteen journalists from the “Media Education Desk” were equipped this Sunday, October 5, in Dedougou, to address educational challenges. This initiative is designed to enhance media coverage of educational issues in areas facing significant security challenges, with the goal of promoting quality education in crisis contexts.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Director General for the quality of preschool and primary education, Marcel Guigma, briefed journalists on the main challenges, reforms, and issues for the upcoming school year, coinciding with the 2025-2026 school and university year. Mr. Guigma elaborated on ongoing reforms at the preschool and primary levels, such as the introduction of English from CE1, the inclusion of ICT and vocational training, the expansion of preschool education, local canteens, school gardens, and the digitalization of textbooks alongside inclusive education.
Marcel Guigma noted that these reforms are being encouragingly implemented on the ground. He highlighted that 824 schools have already adopted the English language reform during the 2024-2025 school year, alongside vocational training and ICT initiatives in 825 schools. Despite challenges reported by field actors, Mr. Guigma assured that endogenous solutions have been devised and a clear roadmap established for the 2025-2026 school year to optimize implementation.
The “Back To School” campaign targets nine priority regions, including Liptako, Yaadga, Koulse, Goulmou, Bankui, and Tannounyan, aiming to bring all school-aged children back to school and maintain their attendance through social mobilization, community communications, advocacy, and the active involvement of community and religious leaders.
Key initiatives of the campaign include distributing 270,000 school kits to over 170 localities, organizing sanitation and reforestation days in several establishments, and conducting a vaccination campaign against the human papillomavirus in 114 schools. The training session for journalists is a crucial step in strengthening the partnership between media and education stakeholders to raise public awareness in light of current security and educational challenges.
The 2025-2026 school year was inaugurated on October 6, 2025, in Dedougou by the President of the Transitional Legislative Assembly, Dr. Ousmane Bougma, under the theme “Educational reforms for quality education and training for all: challenges and perspectives.”