Burkina Faso's school for shepherds thrives

A unique educational institution has created a program tailored to the needs of children of nomadic herders in the African country of Burkina Faso

Salou

Bandé is proud to be at the head of the only class Bénnogo village, 90 km north of the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, sharing knowledge with their students. It is part of an initiative to improve the education of Traveller children in the West African country.

Bendy

slender building that stands out as a member of the nomadic Fulani people, and was one of the first professors of the School of the Shepherds. This innovative educational institution takes between 20 and 25 students per year, more precisely to 12 years who have never attended formal school.

"We started with a drive Fulfulde [local language] on malaria, then continue with the lessons of history, geography, French, and earth and life sciences - This includes increasing animal health, the environment and health, "said IPS Bandé.

Bande said he had 18 students in his class, including 11 girls. "They study the Basic Course 2nd year [the third year of primary school], then an examination administered by the provincial department of basic education enables students to participate in the formal school system. Our first group is now in its fifth year of high school. "There are 300 students attending school in the area.

According Boubacar Barry, director of the training program of the association for the promotion of livestock in the Sahel and savanna (APESS), put the children to formal school has a strong impact in Media pastoral subsistence of a family.

working with the Ministry of education and literacy in the north, where the pastors who represent 17% of the population, and Andal Pindal - a local organization that has played a role in the establishment of the school pastors - conducted a study in 2003 showed that less than 1% of children herdsmen "were enrolled in school

Special School held its first classes in the same year, the reception of students between nine and 15 years in six counties in the northern province of Sanmantenga. Of the 197 first-year students who completed the 144 four-year cycle and sat for a final exam.

• This year, according to Mamadou Boly, a retired inspector of primary education and Andal and Pindal president (whose name means "knowledge and enlightenment" in Fulfulde), School of pastors one success rate of 85%, and nearly two-thirds of the students went straight to the CM2, last year of primary school. Several went to high school and vocational training centers. "We thought we were training children stockyards, but these children have abandoned their settlements and to conquer the world, "says Boly.

He said the school was born out of concern for people in the communities of shepherds. "Those who had been to school, and they realized that their community is not progressing"

Moussa Diallo, president of the parents of the school, enrolled her son and daughter in Bénnogo. "We realized that there was no place for livestock and agriculture, in order to succeed in these areas, the knowledge that is necessary," he said. "We can see the difference with those did not go to school. "

Boly agreed. "The kids say they do not want to go to formal school, but it is essential. So we made the standard program focusing on grazing on the land and life sciences, health and hygiene, "said. "It is the management of time and space is different. Always it is the community that decides when each school opens and closes. When students leave early, can water the animals and help their parents. " In addition, the school is open from May to December, leaving students free to participate in the annual migration of herds in search of pasture.

With school Bénnogo well established, classes were opened in six villages in the region. Support from the Ministry of Education and other international partners means that 15 schools are scheduled to open in the 2012-13 school year in the eastern and south-central, where literacy rates and schooling are lowest.
"The relevance of the work of Andal and Pindal lies in its focus on a very specific group to be educated in their real context, if we provide an adequate education that meets the needs of the intended beneficiaries" Rémy said Abu, Director General of basic education and non-formal education in the ministry. His department has helped develop programs and materials with association learning.

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