Diapaga: The provincial coordination of citizen monitoring and the focal points of the presidential initiative for community development in Tapoa convened a general assembly on Wednesday, November 20, in Diapaga. The assembly aimed to explore endogenous solutions to address the ongoing teacher shortage affecting the current school year in Tapoa. Since the school year began on October 1, students in Diapaga’s middle and high schools have faced significant challenges due to the absence of nearly 300 teachers, attributed to security and food supply issues in the region.
According to Burkina Information Agency, a strategic decision was made to renew dialogue with the citizen monitoring collective and focal points on October 20, 2024, which led to the mobilization of 21 volunteer secondary school teachers and 19 primary school teachers to mitigate the teacher shortage. These volunteers have been actively engaged in classrooms since October 18, 2024, as part of the effort to identify and implement sustainable solu
tions. To support this initiative, voluntary contributions of 200 FCFA per schoolchild and 500 FCFA per student have been proposed.
Community members have demonstrated substantial support, contributing approximately 200,000 FCFA, along with food supplies such as millet, corn, and rice, to assist the volunteer teachers. This collective effort highlights the potential for developing internal solutions while awaiting the deployment of officially assigned teachers to Tapoa.
The initiative’s driving collective reaffirmed its dedication to educational advancement. Representatives Arnaud Gnoula, Pierre Yonli, and Denis Coulidiati emphasized the establishment of dialogue channels with education system stakeholders to address the concerns raised by teachers regarding their return to Diapaga.
The social environment in Diapaga is notably challenging for workers, particularly teachers, due to diminished purchasing power and escalating food prices, compounded by prevailing insecurity. The meeting provided an opportunit
y to address these economic concerns, with demands for adherence to agreed-upon pricing established in prior meetings with traders. Current market rates include 3,500 FCFA for a plate of millet, 75,000 FCFA for a 50kg bag of rice, and 150,000 FCFA for a 100kg bag of corn.
The collective has voiced its opposition to what it perceives as “wild speculation in commodity prices” and criticized “certain corrupt traders” for obstructing dialogue. It remains hopeful that commodity prices will stabilize and become more accessible post-harvest season.
The assembly was attended by parents, customary and religious authorities, and civil society organizations, underscoring a community-wide commitment to resolving the educational challenges in Tapoa.