The national literacy rate is 30 per cent for males, and 15 per cent for females. Only
about 40 per cent of children go to primary school. And just nine per cent continue to
secondary school. Schools are usually in a reasonable condition and have basic equipment,
but there are not enough of them and, in any case, many children’s parents cannot
afford to send them. Parents have to buy exercise books, pens, and pencils as well as pay
school fees. Legally the size limit for one class is 65 children, but in many rural areas
classes are much bigger because there are not enough schools. If a school is full, some
children cannot get a place and they have to stay at home and try again the next year.The
school week runs from Monday to Saturday lunchtime, and the school is closed on Thursdays.
Lessons are taught in French, the country’s official language, which is many
children’s second or third language, especially in rural areas. It is estimated that
only 15 per cent of Burkinabè can speak French; instead they use local languages such as
Mooré and Dioula. At school the pattern of lessons is set by a national curriculum which
timetables each subject for each year group, so that around the country children of the
same age are always studying the same subject at any given time. Subjects include
Production, where children might learn to grow maize, plant trees, or keep chickens on
school land. The children have a break during the hottest hours between noon and 3pm, when
they eat lunch, play games and have a siesta.
Recently a number of laws have been passed in an attempt to make it easier for disabled people to have an education and to take an active role in society. Often
parents can only afford to send one child to school, and able-bodied children are educated
rather than their disabled siblings. Some of the laws are intended to provide school fees
and other help so that disabled children can get an education. |
