Zoundweogo: The provincial coordination of the Zoundweogo Child Protection Network (RPE) launched an education and awareness campaign in schools on Tuesday at the Guiba departmental high school, aimed at combating student dropout rates in favor of gold panning.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the launch ceremony brought together members of the network, administrative and municipal authorities, and key stakeholders to discuss the issue of protecting children from dropping out of school, particularly in the direction of gold mining sites in the province and the West African sub-region. This campaign aims to raise awareness of the scale of the phenomenon and to curb the rush of students to artisanal gold mining areas.

The provincial coordinator of the network, Roland Oulon, indicated that the initiative served as a framework for interactive exchanges between students, parents, and actors in the education system, in order to curb school dropout in this province which is home to important gold mining sites. He emphasized that although gold panning is not prohibited in Burkina Faso, it is preferable to access it with professional qualifications. "If you go there with a degree or technical skills, you will not be treated the same as those who rely solely on their physical strength," he explained.

The first vice-coordinator of the provincial network indicated that the campaign will include awareness sessions for students and parents, radio programs, and film screenings highlighting the risks and difficult working conditions in mines. For his part, the principal of the Guiba departmental high school, Maxime Yigo, urged parents to strengthen collaboration with the school administration for better monitoring of children. He stressed that the lack of communication within families fosters the negative influence of certain peers who returned from mining sites with low earnings.

Speaking on behalf of the students, Massoud Sawadogo urged his classmates to prioritize their studies. He noted, based on testimonies, that minors are often used as cheap and easily exploitable labor. According to the initiators, the campaign will cover primary and post-primary institutions in the province.