Boudry: The Boura Basic Education District (CEB) launched its sports and cultural activities on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, under the theme "Sport and Culture in Primary Schools within a Context of Resilience and Social Cohesion." Between a resounding 6-0 victory in the opening match and an urgent appeal from the sponsor against school dropouts due to students working in gold mining sites, this 2025-2026 edition of the OSCEP (Sports and Culture in Primary Schools) promises to be a turning point for the resilience of the 40 participating schools.
According to Burkina Information Agency, primary schools in Boura are now operating in accordance with the OSCEP (French Olympic Committee for Primary Education). The competitions kicked off in the presence of local authorities, education professionals, and key figures in the community.
For this season, students compete in several disciplines, including football, athletics, and cycling, as well as cultural events such as traditional ballet, playback, recital, and theatre.
The head of the basic education district (CCEB) of Boura, Issoufou Koudbi Gandema, stressed the importance of maintaining these activities despite the security challenges. 'As we know, in a context of resilience, play is of paramount importance, especially as it has therapeutic virtues. Allow our children to sublimate the stigmas of the security crisis by playing,' he said, specifying that sport and culture are essential vectors of psychological stability and unity for learners.
Echoing this sentiment, the Secretary General of OSCEP, Zakaria Sana, praised the partners' commitment. He called on all stakeholders to fully engage to ensure the success of this season, which is scheduled to conclude on April 25, 2026.
The patron of the edition, Celestin Pooda, an international civil servant, was represented by Gervais Some, primary education inspector in Leo. In his speech, he expressed his concern about the massive school dropout rate of young people who go to gold mining sites. "We have a duty to support what is being done at home so that our children can have a new frame of reference, other than the one they currently have," he argued. He made an urgent appeal to the sons and daughters of the community to invest more in education to offer better future prospects to the youth.
The president of the special delegation (PDS) of Boura, Judith Diasso/Kanyala, patron of the ceremony, was represented for the occasion by the first vice-president, Yao Philippe Yaldia. He reaffirmed the special delegation's determination to firmly support the education sector in the municipality.
After the customary blessings from the representative of His Majesty the canton chief of Boura, Abdoul Razak Nadie, the opening match pitted the El Hadj Kama Nadie primary school of Boura against that of Zelkw¨. On the field, the show of force by the El Hadj Kama Nadie school, victorious (6-0) against Zelkw¨, set the tone for a competition that aims to be demanding. But beyond the scores, the challenge of school retention remains the central concern in Boura.
All eyes are now on April 25, the date of the grand final, which will crown not only the sporting and cultural champions but also the commitment of an entire community to the future of its children.