Koudougou: The 5th edition of FACE, combined with the national school sports championship, was launched under the banner of cohesion and inclusion. The Nando Regional Directorate of Preschool, Primary and Non-Formal Education hosted, on Tuesday morning, the official launch ceremony of the fifth edition of the Festival of Arts and Culture in Education (FACE), combined with the national championship of individual and team sports.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the ceremony began with the performance of the national anthem in the Moore language, followed by a parade of delegations from the 12 regions present, in an atmosphere marked by cultural diversity and fraternity. Placed under the theme "Sport and culture in schools: lever for civic education, resilience and national cohesion", this edition brings together approximately 300 primary school students from different regions of Burkina Faso, with the exception of the Sahel.
The representative of the president of the special delegation of the municipality of Koudougou, Odette Bassie/Zoungrana, 2nd vice-president, welcomed the participants to the "hospitable city of the Red Rider", hailing the holding of this event as a mark of confidence and a source of pride for the municipality. Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, the governor of the Nando region, Adama Jean-Yves Bere, recalled that school is also a space for training values and expressing talents, highlighting the complementarity between sport and culture in building a united nation.
In his official opening remarks, the Minister of Basic Education, Jacques Sosth¨ne Dingara, indicated that this initiative is part of the government's vision to promote holistic education. He emphasized that FACE provides a framework for identifying and promoting artistic and athletic talent, while also contributing to the civic education of students. He further explained that the competitions cover several disciplines.
In culture, for example, students showcase their skills in lip-syncing, ballet, skits, storytelling, and Braille reading for students with disabilities. In sports, the events include long jump, running, and assisted running for visually impaired students. The Director General for the Improvement of Teaching Conditions and School Life, Emilienne Konsem/Sawadogo, elaborated on the preparations, indicating that they had been carried out in the various regions with the selection of supervised delegations. She did, however, note some difficulties, particularly related to the lack of suitable infrastructure to host the event.
According to the director general, this initiative provides a valuable platform for talent identification. She added that discussions are underway to better support these young people and offer them career opportunities. The ceremony took place under the patronage of the Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Pingdwende Gilbert Ouedraogo, and the co-patronage of the Minister of Sports, Youth and Employment, Annick Lydie Djouma Pikbougoum/Zingue Ouattara.
It should be noted that the event was presided over by the Minister of Basic Education, Jacques Sosth¨ne Dingara, with the Minister of Family and Solidarity, Lieutenant-Colonel Passowende Pelagie Kabre/Kabore, and the Governor of the Nando region, Adama Jean-Yves Bere, serving as patrons. For four days, the students will compete in a spirit of discipline, fair play, and fraternity, with the aim of strengthening social cohesion and civic values among Burkinab¨ youth.