Tougo:Welcomed as a breath of fresh air by the educational community in the commune of Tougo, in Zondoma province, the NEKRE Pact for reforming Burkina Faso's school system has garnered strong support in principle. However, school administrators and educational supervisors emphasize the urgent need to translate theoretical commitments into concrete actions.
According to Burkina Information Agency, officially launched on October 17, 2026, in Kaya, the NEKRE Pact aims to fundamentally rethink the education system in Burkina Faso. The initiative focuses on national sovereignty and the mobilization of endogenous resources to provide sustainable solutions to the major challenges facing education. This strategic vision has been well received by practitioners.
At the Tougo departmental high school, Principal Inoussa Kafando, Administrator of High Schools and Colleges, described the initiative as "welcome." He particularly commended the commitment of the highest authorities to revitalize technical and vocational education, enhance the teaching profession, and demand rigorous ethical standards in training. However, Mr. Kafando emphasized that the success of this pact will depend on its dissemination and the continued active decolonization of knowledge.
Ousseni Ouédraogo, Inspector of Primary and Non-Formal Education, shares the major challenge of operationalization. While endorsing the strategic directions, he highlights the gap that often separates intentions from achievements. Mr. Ouédraogo also expresses reservations regarding the management of bilingual and multilingual education, hoping that the authorities will correct observed shortcomings.
On a practical level, expectations are high. Fidèle Guéré, headmaster of the Kalcé school, describes this project as a "breath of fresh air" for school infrastructure often facing shortages of textbooks and furniture. He states that ensuring dignity in every school will be a victory, provided the State allocates necessary resources.
Beyond their overall support, the headmaster, the inspector, and the school principal agree on a common requirement the NEKRE Pact cannot succeed without collective ownership, adequate funding, and measures that are immediately noticeable on a daily basis. The capacity for real transformation will determine the credibility of educational reform in Burkina Faso.