Tcheriba: The English club of the Tcheriba departmental high school organized a special day dedicated to the celebration of the English language, called "English Day", on Thursday, January 22, 2025. This initiative is part of the momentum driven by the highest authorities in the country to promote the teaching and mastery of English in primary, post-primary, and secondary schools in Burkina Faso.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the English club of the departmental high school, led by Alexis W. Sawadogo, a certified English teacher, aimed to celebrate this language through a day with strong educational and symbolic significance. With the agreement of the school administration, the club members proceeded with the raising of the colours. In line with the national slogan "Let's consume Burkinabe", special permission was granted to the students to dress in Faso danfani and k´k´donda, thus giving the event a cultural and patriotic dimension.
The principal of the high school, Mathias Koumbem, welcomed this initiative, which he described as commendable and promising for the future. Speaking in English, he urged learners to redouble their efforts in learning this language, the mastery of which is now a major asset in the job market and in the professional world.
For the club coordinator, Alexis W. Sawadogo, the "English Day" primarily serves an educational purpose. He indicated that the aim was to instill in students a love of the English language and to strengthen their motivation to use it on a daily basis. According to Mr. Sawadogo, the involvement of teachers, who are asked to speak exclusively in English throughout the day, helps to create healthy competition and encourages learners to invest more in acquiring this language, which has now become an essential necessity.
The teachers who took part in the activity welcomed the initiative, which they consider relevant, given the growing importance of English in international exchanges. Beyond professional solidarity, they believe that their participation is a pedagogical duty for the benefit of the students.
The observation made at the high school shows that this day was supported by all stakeholders, contributing to its success. Created in 2017, the English club of the Tcheriba Departmental High School has always distinguished itself in the locality through various educational, school, and extracurricular activities, for the benefit of students, public services, and places of worship, thus contributing to the influence of the establishment and the promotion of bilingualism.