Tenkodogo: Burkina Faso commemorated International Literacy Day (ILD) in Tenkodogo, in the Nakamb© region, under the theme: 'Promoting literacy in the digital age.' The ceremony brought together authorities, partners, education stakeholders, and communities to discuss the challenges and opportunities related to digital literacy, which is essential for socio-professional integration and sustainable development.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Minister of Basic Education, Literacy and the Promotion of National Languages, Jacques Sosthene Dingara, indicated that literacy "is no longer just learning to read and write, but now constitutes the key to success, development and socio-professional integration." He highlighted the government's efforts in the area of non-formal education, which offers a second chance to school dropouts and adults, particularly through vocational training. For him, the three-pronged approach of literacy, training, and integration is a true compass for national education policy.
Minister Dingara also paid tribute to the Defense and Security Forces, teachers, and the educational community for their resilience in a difficult security context. Patron of the ceremony, Bendi Beno®t Ouoba, illustrated the positive impacts of literacy, citing young people who have become self-sufficient through trade, agriculture, or livestock farming, as well as villages transformed by community initiatives.
Burkina Faso is pursuing several initiatives to integrate digital technology into education, including the creation of a department dedicated to educational technologies, the implementation of online platforms, the broadcasting of courses via radio and television, and capacity building for educational stakeholders. For the 2024-2025 campaign, 1,822 non-formal education centers for adolescents and 1,334 centers for young people and adults are open and operational, despite security and economic constraints.
Proclaimed in 1966 by UNESCO, the JIA emphasizes that literacy is a fundamental right and a lever for development. The 2025 edition, with its focus on digital technology, highlights the importance of technological skills for access to information, training, and employment.