FIGHT AGAINST ILLITERACY IN BURKINA FASO
Dr. Zacharia Tiemtoré’s Solution
Dr. Zacharia Tiemtoré, former Minister of Literacy in Burkina Faso from 2011 to 2013, obtained an Executive Master’s degree from Sciences Po Paris on June 20, 2016. His thesis, specializing in Development Policy and Management, focused on the complex issue of eradicating illiteracy in Burkina Faso.
Thus, as an expert on the subject, and drawing on an analysis informed by interviews with professionals in the field at both the national and international levels, he proposes a strategy to eradicate widespread illiteracy in Burkina Faso within ten years.
After several decades of literacy initiatives and programs, the results remain mixed, because, according to Dr. Tiemtoré, « the fight against illiteracy has never been the subject of a comprehensive, structured strategy, driven by strong political will and equipped with a regular monitoring mechanism. »
He also points out that several countries around the world have succeeded in eradicating illiteracy and, moreover, draws inspiration from the lessons learned from successful experiences. For him, « with the involvement of political decision-makers, civil society, local authorities, the private sector and grassroots communities, Burkina Faso can be transformed into a learning society, where the father of a family can continue to learn while gaining efficiency, where the out-of-school youth can easily return to school, where the woman can be properly trained in a profession and practice it freely, where finally, everyone can make knowledge the foundation of their autonomy and the building of a common future. »
To achieve this, it is necessary to declare the fight against illiteracy a « national emergency in Burkina Faso. »
The strategy proposed by Dr. Tiemtoré rests on four pillars, with progressive implementation stages so that, within ten years, Burkina Faso can embark on the path to development and emergence, freed from the burden of mass illiteracy.
It is worth noting the presence on the jury of one of the pioneers in the fight against illiteracy in Africa and around the world, Minister Adama Ouane, currently Administrator of the International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF), and, most notably, former Director of the UIL (UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning), the UNESCO institute dedicated to literacy and lifelong learning.
As a reminder, Zacharia Tiemtoré holds a Doctorate in Educational Sciences, which he obtained in 2006. He served as Minister of Literacy in Burkina Faso from 2011 to 2013 and is the author of two books to date.
Burkina24
