Mouhoun: The President of the Special Delegation (PDS) of the commune of Ouarkoye, Idrissa Ganame, chaired a preparatory meeting for the start of the 2025-2026 school year. The session gathered key officials from the Basic Education District (CEB), school principals, presidents of the Village Development Committees (CVD), and other resource persons.

According to Burkina Information Agency, education stakeholders, supported by the authorities of the Municipality of Ouarkoye, convened to ensure a smooth start to the school year. The agenda included the reopening of closed schools, establishment of school councils, and addressing concerns for the academic year. The meeting also highlighted the forced relocation of the commune’s administration to Dedougou in 2022 due to insecurity, which resulted in school closures.

Thanks to the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland (VDP), a step towards normalization has begun. Olivier Tamini, Head of the Basic Education District (CCEB) of Ouarkoye, noted that between 2023 and 2024, 24 schools reopened. For the 2025-2026 year, the remaining 17 schools that were closed since 2022 will resume activities.

Tamini stated that this development indicates the full reopening of Ouarkoye’s schools, now comprising 34 classic schools, 3 Education and Vocational Training Centers (CEEP), 3 Non-Formal Basic Education Centers (CEBNF), and a bilingual school. Participants during the meeting recommended focusing on ensuring a peaceful school year through safety, community involvement, and student support.

Idrissa Ganame expressed gratitude to education stakeholders for their resilience in keeping education active in the commune. He acknowledged the efforts of the fighting forces for enabling the gradual resumption of activities. Ganame hoped for continued commitment to foster development and stability in the municipality.

The full reopening of schools in Ouarkoye marks a significant step towards normalizing socio-educational life after years of disruption.