Minister of Education supports the 'Learn Without Fear' campaign

Education Minister Odile Bonkoungou addressing the crowd

Basic Education Minister Mrs. Odile Bonkoungou chaired the event and addressed the newly trained primary school teachers in the city of Bobo Dioulasso during their graduation ceremony, which was held under Plan Burkina’s patronage on July 28th.  Program Support Manager Rheal Drisdelle led a Plan delegation to the ceremony. In honoring a recent promise to Plan to commit her ministry to the 'Learn Without Fear' campaign, the Minister gave a head start to this campaign through her speech.

Meeting with Plan Burkina

After a visit to Plan Burkina last month, and following a previous meeting with the new Country Director Mahamadou Tounkara, Minister Odile Bonkoungou  said that violence in school deserves action and that she would be part of this campaign.

New teachers attending the ceremony

Twenty days after her visit to Plan, the Minister began advocating for children’s rights to learn without fear by appealing to teachers, a key audience. She said: “Teachers are at the centre of this campaign. ... Violence keeps children away from school. They dread school, because its environment is not conducive safe enough to them and therefore not conducive to learning. I therefore urge you all, to back Plan and the ministry for this campaign."

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