Ouagadougou: Nine girls who excelled in the fourth edition of the national "Mathematical Elites" competition, organized by the Maison Arc-en-ciel association, were awarded scholarships, tablets, and laptops during an awards ceremony in Ouagadougou. The winners were recognized in three categories: primary, post-primary, and secondary, with each category seeing three girls honored for their achievements.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the competition required participants to maintain strong academic performance in science subjects, with minimum averages of 16/20, 15/20, and 14/20 in primary, post-primary, and secondary schools, respectively. In the primary school category, Emmy Alexane D©borah Traor© led with a "good" grade, followed by Imelda Yiwogina Bationo and Honnadia Fabiola Sanon, who achieved "fairly good" and "passable" grades, respectively.
In the post-primary category, Hope D©borah To© took first place with honors, ahead of Flore Vinibwo Coulibaly and Ulie Benicia Jokebed Bonkoungou, who also received honors and a high pass, respectively. The secondary school winners were all from the National Science High School of Ouagadougou, with Tinbnoma Pascaline Ou©draogo taking first place, followed by At¨w¨ Farida Tietiambou and lodie Leticia Nongabamba Sawadogo.
The competition, held on May 31, 2026, spanned nine centers across Burkina Faso, attracting 261 candidates from 113 schools across 13 regions. Harouna Derra, the national coordinator of the Maison Arc-en-ciel association, stated that the competition aims to boost girls' interest in science and technology and counter the trend of higher female enrollment in humanities over sciences.
Derra expressed satisfaction with the increasing interest in the competition, noting a rise in enthusiasm each year. Plans for the next edition include expanding the competition to all 17 regions of Burkina Faso.
Dr. Boukari Nebi©, representing the Minister of Secondary Education, Vocational and Technical Training, praised the initiative, highlighting its alignment with national policies promoting scientific and technical education. He emphasized the inclusivity of mathematics and encouraged the winners to continue striving academically as the competition becomes more challenging.
The Maison Arc-en-ciel association extended gratitude to its partners, including the People's Legislative Assembly, the Ministry of Secondary Education, Vocational and Technical Training, the NGO Afrique et Savoirs, and Ouaga 3S University. The awards ceremony was themed "Academic Excellence and Sovereignty."