N.B: Please be aware that most resources and sources are in French.
Overview of the Country

Background:

  • Official name: Burkina Faso1
  • Location: West Africa, landlocked Sahelian country bordered by Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire2
  • Population: 23.4 million (2025 projection)3
  • Capital: Ouagadougou4
  • Official language: French5
  • GDP: $18.2 billion (2024 estimate)6
  • GNI per capita, PPP: $2,456 (2023)7

Membership of Regional Economic Communities (RECs):

Additional Resources:

Sources:

  1. Ministère de l'Éducation Nationale, de l'Alphabétisation et de la Promotion des Langues Nationales
  2. Ministère de l’Économie, des Finances et de la Prospective
  3. Institut National de la Statistique et de la Démographie
  4. African Development Bank
  5. Ministère de la Communication, de la Culture, des Arts et du Tourisme
  6. African Development Bank
  7. World Bank Data

Key priorities:1 2 3 4 5

  • Addressing the learning crisis with 74% learning poverty rate among 10-year-olds
  • Ensuring access to education for all in context of humanitarian and security crises
  • Developing education service provision through infrastructure building and alternative education
  • Implementing holistic education in emergencies approach for learners affected by crises
  • Supporting girls and vulnerable children through gender-responsive planning
  • Improving teacher recruitment, allocation and professional development
  • Strengthening education system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected environments
  • Expanding pre-primary to secondary education coverage
  • Developing distance learning and digital education capabilities

Policy and Strategy References:

Innovation and Future Directions:6

  • Education system resilience building in fragile and conflict contexts
  • Integration of digital technologies for educational continuity
  • Mother tongue instruction development for improved learning outcomes
  • Civil society engagement through Coalition Nationale Pour l'Éducation Pour Tous
  • Data-driven approaches to education system improvement and accountability

Additional Resources:

Sources:

Governance Structure for Education:

The education governance structure emphasizes partnership-based approaches, results-based education projects focusing on learning outcomes, and alignment with national public financial management systems. The Ministry of National Education and Literacy leads Burkina Faso's education system, with functions including:

  • Implementing education sector plans1
  • Coordinating education in emergencies responses2
  • Managing teacher training initiatives3

Education System Structure:4 5

Burkina Faso operates a formal education system structured similarly to other Francophone African countries:

  • Pre-primary education: 3 years (ages 3-5)
  • Primary education: 6 years (ages 6-11, compulsory)
  • Lower secondary education: 4 years (ages 12-15, compulsory)
  • Upper secondary education: 3 years (ages 16-18)
  • Higher education: 3-5+ years

The Education Act makes schooling compulsory from age 6 to 16. French serves as the official language of instruction throughout the education system, though only 15% of Burkinabè can speak French. By law, education is free, but the government does not have adequate resources to provide universal free primary education, and children are required to pay for school supplies.

Sources:

School age population and demographic pressure:[1] [2]

  • Young population demographic: 70% of population below 20 years of age
  • Proportion of age groups:
    • 6-11 years: 15.6%
    • 12-15 years: 9.9%
    • 16-18 years: 7.2%
    • 15-24 years: 21.9%
    • 15-34 years: 36.4%
    • 15-64 years: 56.8%
  • Security crisis impact: 818,149, including 394,293 girls

Enrollment and completion rates:[3] (please note that the gender disaggregation is indicated as proportions of the total)

  • Gross enrollment rates:
    • Primary: Total 85.8% (Female 86.4% / Male 85.2%)
    • Post-primary and Secondary: Total 33.2% (Female 35.0% / Male 31.3%)
    • Secondary: Total 20.7% (Female 19.9% / Male 21.6%)
    • Tertiary enrollment: 12% male, 7% female[4]
  • Completion rates:
    • Primary: Total 54.6% (Female 59.8% / Male 49.5%)
    • Lower secondary: 33.6% boys, 41% girls[5]
  • Primary pupil/teacher ratio: 49.4

Educational Access Challenges:[6]

  • Security crisis impact: 5,319 primary and secondary schools closed (20.45% of educational infrastructure)
  • Humanitarian crisis affecting educational delivery across regions
  • Economic constraints limiting educational access for poor families
  • Infrastructure limitations particularly in rural and remote areas


 

Examination results:[1]

  • Primary School Certificate (CEP) results (2020):
    • Presented: 404,628
    • Admitted: 266,918
    • Percentage: 66.0% (71.5% for 2023)
  • Year 6 entry results (2013):
    • Presented: 243,170
    • Admitted: 78,810
    • Percentage: 32.4% (30.0% for 2014)
  • BEPC results (2022):
    • Presented: 249,553
    • Admitted: 103,186
    • Percentage: 41.3% (38.3% for 2023)
  • Baccalaureate results (2022):
    • Presented: 137,758
    • Admitted: 6,635
    • Percentage: 41.1% (39.3% for 2023)

Quality and Learning Assessment:[2]

  • Focus on improving foundational learning through better teaching and learning materials
  • Emphasis on early grade reading and mathematics competency development
  • Implementation of learning assessment systems and data utilization
  • Development of mother tongue instruction programs to improve learning outcomes

International Learning Initiatives:[3]

  • Participation in Global Partnership for Education learning initiatives
  • Research on educational solutions in emergencies and fragile contexts
  • Africa regional education system resilience observatory


 

Primary School Teacher Population by Gender and School Status:[1]

  • Public & private:
    • Total: 83,736
    • Female: 41,281
    • Male: 42,455
  • Public (2020/2021):
    • Total: 71,597 (61,645 in 2023)
    • Female: 37,174
    • Male: 34,423
  • Private (2020/2021):
    • Total: 21, 314 (22,091 in 2023)
    • Female: 11,464
    • Male: 9,850

Primary School Teacher Population by Category:[2]

  • Total: 83,736
  • Head teacher: 1,425
  • Certified primary school teacher: 48,257
  • Certified assistant teacher: 26,124
  • Other: 7,930

Number of post-primary and secondary school teachers by gender and type of education:[3]

  • General:
    • Total: 29,806
    • Female: 6,863
    • Male: 23,045
  • Technical:
    • Total: 3,027
    • Female: 615
    • Male: 2,422
  • Totals: 32,833 (Female 7,478 / Male: 25,467)

Proportion of teachers who have received at least the minimum organized teacher training (e.g., pedagogical training) pre-service or in-service required for teaching at the relevant level, by level and by sex:[4]

  • Pre-primary: Total 41.9% (Female 38.5% / Male 59.7%)
  • Primary: Total 87.6% (Female 92.4% / Male 83.3%)
  • Lower secondary: Total 59.7% (Female 60.0% / Male 59.7%)
  • Upper secondary: Total 59.8% (Female 60.1% / Male 59.7%)

Teacher Training and Development:[5] [6]

  • Teacher training and support through provision of pedagogical kits
  • Professional development focusing on foundational learning improvement
  • Training programs for teachers in education in emergencies contexts
  • Support for teachers working with displaced and vulnerable children
  • Teacher recruitment and allocation improvement initiatives
  • Development of teacher professional standards and competency frameworks

Teacher Capacity Building:[7]

  • Human Capital Protection Project financing teacher training programs
  • Organization of examinations and competitions to evaluate student achievements
  • Pedagogical kit provision to improve quality of learning
  • Teacher support systems to enhance classroom instruction
  • Professional development aligned with education system resilience building


 

Number of private and public primary schools and classrooms (national):[1]

Schools: 12,780

Classrooms: 59,013

Infrastructure Challenges:[2]

  • 20.45% of educational infrastructure affected by conflict
  • Infrastructure limitations particularly in rural areas
  • Communities responsible for constructing primary school buildings and teachers' housing
  • Legal class size limit of 65 students often exceeded in rural areas due to school shortages

Infrastructure Development Needs:[3]

  • REPAIR Project: $140 million approved for education infrastructure
  • Focus on building climate-resilient educational infrastructure
  • Support for emergency education infrastructure for displaced populations
  • Reliable, modern, and resilient school infrastructure development
  • Infrastructure development targeting refugee and vulnerable children

Technology Infrastructure:[4]

  • Digital Acceleration Project: $150 million for digital transformation
  • Expansion of digital connectivity targeting vulnerable populations
  • Broadband access improvement particularly in climate-vulnerable areas
  • Digital public services development including education sector
  • Digital skills development for knowledge economy participation


 

TVET System Development:[1]

  • Economic integration with agriculture (80% workforce employment)
  • Gold mining sector skills development requirements
  • Services sector expansion creating TVET opportunities
  • Cotton production technical training needs

Economic Integration Opportunities:[2]

  • Agriculture-based economy requiring technical skills
  • Mining sector growth creating technical training demands
  • Economic diversification requiring expanded TVET programming
  • Youth employment through technical and vocational training


 

Types of Higher Education Providers (2018):[1]

  • Comprehensive Universities: 18 (Public 7 / Private 11)
  • Specialized Universities: 1 (Public)
  • University Colleges: 2 (Public)
  • Hybrids: 82 (Private)
  • Three main public universities: University of Ouagadougou, University of Koudougou, Polytechnic University of Bobo-Dioulasso
  • Private institutions include: Université Libre de Ouagadougou, Université Catholique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest

Enrollments (2018):[2]

  • Total enrollment: 120,000
  • Proportion that is Public: 75% 

Higher Education Challenges:[3]

  • Low tertiary enrollment
  • Gender gap favoring males in tertiary education access
  • Limited progression from secondary to tertiary education
  • Economic constraints limiting higher education access
  • Security challenges affecting higher education operations


 

Enrollment and completion rates by gender:[1]

  • Gross enrollment rates:
    • Primary: Female 86.4% / Male 85.2%
    • Post-primary and Secondary: Female 35.0% / Male 31.3%
    • Secondary: Female 19.9% / Male 21.6%
    • Tertiary enrollment: 12% male, 7% female[2]
  • Completion rates:
    • Primary: Female 59.8% / Male 49.5%
    • Lower secondary: 33.6% boys, 41% girls[3]

Primary School Teacher Population by Gender and School Status:[4]

  • Public & private: Female: 41,281 / Male: 42,455
  • Public (2020/2021): Female: 37,174 / Male: 34,423
  • Private (2020/2021): Female: 11,464 / Male: 9,850

Number of post-primary and secondary school teachers by gender and type of education:[5]

  • General: Female: 6,863 / Male: 23,045
  • Technical: Female: 615 / Male: 2,422
  • Totals: Female 7,478 / Male: 25,467

Inclusive Education Initiatives:[6]

  • Education in emergencies approach for crisis-affected learners
  • Civil society advocacy through Education Out Loud fund
  • Coalition Nationale pour l'Éducation pour Tous du Burkina Faso (CN-EPT/BF)
  • Girls Not Brides partnership to end child marriage
  • Mother tongue instruction programs for improved accessibility


 

Government expenditure on education as a % of GDP: 4.2[1]

Government expenditure on education as a % of total government expenditure: 18.0[2]

Major International Funding:[3] [4]

  • REPAIR Project: $140 million World Bank approval including $10 million for host communities and refugees
  • Global Partnership for Education co-financing scheduled for approval
  • Human Capital Protection Project: $100.4 million for education and health
  • Digital Acceleration Project: $150 million including education components
  • Education pooled fund: Six donor partners implementing $30 million annually

Domestic Education Investment:[5]

  • Budget deficit improved from 10.4% of GDP (2022) to 6.9% (2023)
  • Higher tax revenue supporting education sector: 17.8% of GDP (2023)
  • Security-related spending affecting budget margins for education
  • Public debt at 60.8% of GDP (2023) constraining domestic investment

International Development Support:[6] [7]

  • Global Partnership for Education: Long-standing partnership since 2002
  • Agence Française de Développement (AFD): Direct management of GPE funds
  • Sahel Alliance: Coordinated support from Germany, African Development Bank, World Bank, France, EU, UNDP
  • Results-based financing indicators through GPE Fund contribution
  • Aligned funding mechanisms using national public financial management systems


 

Literacy rate of individuals aged 15 and over:[1]

  • Total: 42.0%
  • Female: 34.4%
  • Male: 51.4%

Literacy rate of individuals aged 15 and over by age (2018):[2]

  • 15-19 years: 65.9% (2021)
  • 20-24 years: 49.8%
  • 25-29 years: 41.9%
  • 30-34 years: 38.5%
  • 35-39 years: 32.5% 

Literacy Development Programs:[3]

  • Non-formal education programs for those who never attended school or dropped out
  • Mother tongue instruction initiatives to improve literacy outcomes
  • Early grade reading programs through international partnerships
  • Community-based literacy development approaches
  • Integration of literacy programs with education in emergencies responses


 

Distribution of households with electricity (2007): 14.3%[1]

Digital Education Infrastructure:[2]

  • Digital Acceleration Project: $150 million for digital transformation
  • Broadband connectivity expansion targeting vulnerable populations
  • Digital public services development including education applications
  • Infrastructure development for internally displaced persons and rural communities
  • Climate-resilient digital infrastructure for educational continuity

Technology Integration Strategy:[3]

  • Digital skills development for knowledge economy participation
  • Training for public administration staff in digital competencies
  • Youth digital skills and employment opportunities
  • Distance learning development for crisis-affected populations
  • Digital technology addressing fragility and strengthening resilience


 

Refugees, asylum seekers, and IDPs:[1]

  • Refugees: 19,838
  • Asylum seekers: 28
  • Internally Displaced Persons: 921,471

Characteristics of registered refugees and asylum-seekers in total refugee population:[2]

  • Children: 56.7%
  • Older persons: 3.3%
  • People with disabilities: 1.5%
  • Men/boys: 46.9%
  • Women/girls: 53.1%