Post secondary Education for Girls in Burkina Faso

The name Salimata is a very popular woman’s name in Burkina Faso. Thus, it is not surprising that I share with you recent stories from two Salimatas who completed their primary school teacher training together in 2015, and asked that I share with you their new experience as teachers. While in training, they became known as Salimata de N and Salimata de O.

Salimata de N: I began my teaching career this school year in Leba/Zondoma, located 30 km from Ouahigouya (the largest town in northern Burkina Faso). Leba/Zondoma has a population of about 3,740, of which 1,090 are school age children. It has two primary schools and a secondary school.

I teach a first grade class of 49 students (19 girls and 30 boys). I share lodging at the school with three other female teachers and enjoy spending my time preparing my courses, teaching them and correcting student homework. I love teaching and am very grateful to Global Giving donors who have made my training possible.

Salimata de O: I teach second grade in the village of Zamyoro, 23 km from Ouahigouya. Zamyoro has a population of about 620, of which almost 270 are children. My primary school has 103 students, three teachers and three classrooms. I have a class of 75 second graders (38 boys and 37 girls). Our school cannot accept more than the current 103 students due to its poor infrastructure. We have to turn children away and many of them find their way to the gold mines to try to get a little money for their families.

I teach from 7:30 am – noon and 2 – 4 pm. I organize special sessions some afternoons for children who need extra help. A major problem for me and the other teachers, and students, is the lack of potable water at the school. Both students and teachers must go one km away to obtain water from a well.

Thank you GlobalGiving donors. I hope you will continue to help young women like myself to be trained as teachers so that we can teach the children in our village primary schools.