The War on Education in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso, a landlocked West African nation, has not been exempt from complex political and social challenges. A neighbour to 6 other African nations, it remains one of the poorest among them. Forty percent of Burkina Faso’s population lies below the national poverty line. Burkina Faso is also ranked 182 of 189 nations on the United Nation’s Development Programme’s Human Development Index. Burkina Faso’s placement on this index highlights their low literacy, expectancy, and economic growth rates. Following their independence from France in 1960, Burkina Faso has undergone severe social and political disruption due to the rise in Islamic militarism. The continued instability and terroristic disruption within the country has resulted in several tragedies, displacing thousands of young students from their schools. The state of education within Burkina Faso has been negatively affected, continuing the unceasing war on education.
When President Roch Kabore was first elected in 2015, he vowed to reunify the country following a coup attempt. When he was re-elected for a second term in 2020, he aimed to reengage peaceful conversations with armed groups within Burkina Faso’s northern region. Nevertheless, armed conflict continued to rage on following the insurgence of Ansaroul Islam, a homegrown group with ties to the country’s Sahel region. The conflict has persisted to impact the lives of civilians and impede their everyday activities, including children’s ability to attend school safely. Thousands of schools have been forced to shut down.
Since 2017, increasingly armed Islamic groups have had a worsening effect on children’s access to education within Central and Sub-Saharan Africa. This was notably acknowledged in Nigeria’s northeast with the presence of Boko Haram. Much like in Nigeria, armed groups in alliance with Al Qaeda and the Islamic State have cited their opposition to “Western and French” education and governmental institutions within Burkina Faso, deterring teachers from coming to work. As a result, this form of violence has forced parents to keep their children out of school. Within Burkina Faso, these groups have attacked, harassed, beaten, and harmed teachers and education councillors through the damage and destruction of classes and campuses. According to Human Rights Watch, there have been 126 attacks on schools and education professionals within 2019. The violence has continued to escalate, resulting in eight school attacks occurring in June of 2021.
Rapid population growth, a lack of inadequate infrastructure, gender inequality, and low literacy are contributing factors to Burkina Faso’s high levels of poverty. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, these continued attacks exacerbate already low levels of literacy and education. Attacks on schools have further reduced the quality of education in Burkina Faso, reversing decades of progress in school attendance. The violence has created long lasting psychological effects, to which both teachers and students do not want to return to school. Nevertheless, the Burkinabe government has endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration, a political agreement that aims to strengthen prevention and response to attacks on teachers and students. The Burkinabe government continued to implement initiatives with the Safe Schools Declaration, aimed at continuing access to education. Initiatives include reopening schools, introducing “catch-up” sessions for displaced students, and setting temporary study spaces.
The situation in Burkina Faso is complex and sensitive, as there are many variables affecting its already intricate society. However, the ability to receive an education in a safe environment should not be one of them. The Burkinabe government should continue to enforce such initiatives in order for Burkinabe children to be protected and to remain in school. Armed Islamic groups should cease all attacks and related violence. Government should establish civilian harm mitigation practices. There must be an end to the proliferation of arms and self-defence groups. There must be increased local reconciliation efforts though the demobilisation of armed groups. Access to safe education is a universal right, and the government should ensure this even in times of insecurity.