Burkina Faso Strengthening advocacy for displaced children's education
Nabyla (right) attends class in Kaya, Burkina Faso, the town in which her family found refuge after being displaced.

UNICEF/UNI280376/Tremeau

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Burkina Faso: Strengthening Advocacy for Displaced Children’s Education

14.06.2024

Bagnomo Modeste Nebie | National Coalition for Education for All in Burkina Faso

Read how improvements are being made in the lives of displaced children at Kouim Kouli B primary school in Burkina Faso, thanks to support from GPE’s Education Out Loud, and the commitment of local government and development partners.

Because of the insecurity, we abandoned our villages and ended up in Kaya. I come from Dablo. When we arrived, we were faced with a number of challenges, including a lack of food and shelter. After a while, when we were able to settle in, we realized that our children needed to go back to school

Wendkouni Rasmané Ouedraogo, President of Pupils’ parents Association, Kouim Kouli B primary school, Kaya


Over the past two years, the city of Kaya in Sanmatenga Province, Burkina Faso, has become a refuge to hundreds of families fleeing conflict in village areas such as Dablo, Barsalogho, Pissila, Tougouri or Yalgho. This influx of internally displaced persons has increased the city’s population, placing strain on its schools and leading to overcrowded classrooms. This was the backdrop to an advocacy initiative that set in motion a series of interventions that have changed the lives of many of Kaya’s displaced children.  

Advocating for Change

In 2023, the National Education for All Coalition, an Education Out Loud partner in Burkina Faso, produced a video capturing the harsh reality of Kouim Kouli B, a primary school created in shelters to receive displaced students and renowned for its challenging learning conditions.

The video, which featured the experiences of both students and teaching staff at the school and was shared with local government officials and NGOs, served as a compelling tool to support advocacy efforts to secure better learning conditions for displaced children at the school, address the shortage of proper classrooms and ensure that the education system could cope with the influx of students.

In its advocacy efforts, the coalition had audiences with the mayor of Kaya as well as the governor of the North-Central region, of which Kaya is the capital city, and the regional director of education, with a focus on Kouim Kouli B in particular.

 

Education Out Loud, Kouim Kuii B School of Kaya
Credit: National Education for All Coalition Burkina Faso | Students from Kouim Kouli B primary school in Kaya enjoy their lunch break during a school outing.

Positive Results

Local government and NGOs responded positively to the education coalition’s call for change. Temporary classrooms were built, providing immediate relief from overcrowding, and policies were adjusted to accommodate more children in existing classrooms, ensuring that displaced pupils had access to quality education.
What the students and teachers at Kouim Kouli B primary school had to say:

We met with the education authorities, who were in favour of building a permanent school but facing a space problem because of the already overcrowded classrooms and the growing number of displaced children. Eventually, the authorities set up the Kouim Kouli B school in 2018.

It was not an easy start, as the school lacked everything. In 2023, thanks to the government and NGOs such as the Norwegian Refugee Council, we have well-built classrooms, our children have textbooks and school supplies, and the school is restored. We express our gratitude for the support we have received.

Wendkouni Rasmané Ouedraogo, President of student parents association, Kouim Kouli B primary school, Kaya

 

“When the terrorists attacked our village, we fled to Kaya. Our schooling took place in sheds. Today we are happy because we have classrooms, and we don’t have to worry about passersby. I’m happy to be in this school.

Catherine Sawadogograde 5 student, Kouim Kouli B primary school, Kaya,


When the terrorists attacked our village, we fled to Kaya. Our schooling took place in sheds. Today we are happy because we have classrooms, and we don’t have to worry about passersby. I’m happy to be in this school.

– Catherine Sawadogo, grade 5 student, Kouim Kouli B primary school, Kaya, Burkina Faso


I used to teach in Kelbo in the Sahel. When we were transferred to Kaya because of the insecurity, my colleagues and I were asked to open this school to help with the influx of internally displaced children. We started with the resources we had, despite the initial difficulties. Classes were held in sheds and under trees. Today we are proud to work comfortably in classrooms built with the help of the government and its development partners.

– Justine SOULGA, teacher, Kouim Kouli B primary school, Kaya, Burkina Faso

With the advocacy of the National Education for All Coalition, supported by Education Out Loud, as well as the commitment of the local government and development partners, tangible improvements have been made in the lives of the displaced children at Kouim Kouli B primary school.