Bankui Mobilizes to Keep Girls in School: A Multi-Faceted Strategy Against Educational Disparities

A comprehensive campaign in Burkina Faso’s Bankui province is tackling the critical issue of girls’ education through a unique blend of advocacy, healthcare, and community engagement. The “Kom-pugli Kaoreng yoodo” campaign, spearheaded by the SWEDD+ project, represents a holistic approach to breaking down the barriers that prevent girls from enrolling and staying in school.

A Stark Reality: Confronting the Data Gap

The campaign’s urgency is rooted in hard data. During advocacy sessions with local authorities, Souleymaneba Ouattara, the High Commissioner of Bankui province, highlighted a concerning disparity. The region’s girls’ enrollment and retention rate stands at just 32%, significantly below the national average of 46%. This gap underscores a localized crisis that demands targeted intervention.

Officials identified a complex web of factors driving this trend, including:

• Early and Forced Marriages: A pervasive practice that cuts girls’ education short, often viewed as a socioeconomic strategy for families.
• Insecurity: In regions facing instability, families may keep girls home due to safety concerns on long journeys to school.
• Proximity to Mining Sites: These sites can create alternative, informal economies that pull children, especially girls, into labor or expose them to heightened risks of exploitation.

Mobilizing the Pillars of Society: Religious and Customary Leaders

Recognizing that legal and policy measures alone are insufficient, the SWEDD+ project strategically engaged the most influential community voices. At the Dédougou Women’s Center, an advocacy session targeted customary chiefs and religious leaders.

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Mariam Sawadogo/Bonkoungou, head of inclusive education services, emphasized the goal: to transform these leaders into active “community relays.” The strategy is to leverage their moral authority to spread the message in mosques, churches, and royal courts, fostering a grassroots cultural shift in favor of educating girls.

The response was promising. Imam Hamadou Kagambega clarified that Islam actively encourages the pursuit of knowledge for all, stating, “Women and men, we are called to seek knowledge. Therefore, we must not only educate boys and leave the girls behind.” This reframing of religious doctrine is a powerful tool against cultural resistance.

Addressing Root Causes: The Critical Link Between Health and Education

The campaign’s most innovative aspect may be its integration of free healthcare services. At the Dédougou Urban Medical Center, the delegation witnessed screenings for cervical cancer, HIV, syphilis, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

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This is not a parallel effort but a foundational one. Poor health is a major barrier to school attendance and performance. A girl managing an untreated STI or fearing a pregnancy cannot focus on her studies. By providing immediate, free treatment, the project removes a significant physical and psychological obstacle. Health advisor Assara Yonli reported strong turnout, with over 50 women screened in just a few hours, demonstrating the critical need for these services.

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Engaging the Education System Directly

The final leg of the marathon day involved direct dialogue at Mari Rosa Molas Private College with teachers and students. This on-the-ground engagement is vital for understanding daily challenges and ensuring school environments are supportive and safe for girls.

The regional director of secondary education reaffirmed the daunting scale of the challenge but praised the SWEDD+ model. The project’s multi-pronged strategy—simultaneously working with authorities, community leaders, health providers, and educators—creates a reinforcing ecosystem of support. It moves beyond awareness-raising to actively dismantle the interconnected barriers of culture, health, and economics.

In conclusion, the Bankui mobilization exemplifies a modern, integrated approach to development. By treating girls’ education not as an isolated issue but as one linked to health, security, culture, and economics, the SWEDD+ project offers a replicable blueprint for creating sustainable change and keeping girls in the classroom where they belong.

W.S
Burkina 24

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