The forum, a relevant space of exchange to improve children’s learning

Marie Elise Natama, Early Childhood education Inspector and chief of the Basic Education District (BED) of Nagréongo since September 2021 took part in the education forum of the province of Oubritenga held on August 30, 2023, in Ziniaré. This is her second participation in this space of exchange supported by the Project for Improving the quality of education through strengthening school-community collaboration (PAQER-CEC) implemented by the Ministry of National Education for Literacy and the Promotion of National Languages (MENAPLN) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Marie Elise strongly believes in the Forum’s contribution to improving student success: «The 1st Oubritenga Education Forum held in August 2022 allowed us to become aware of the low rank of our BED in the province with regard to the success rate at the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) that we had recorded», she says with embarrassment. Indeed, the BED of Nagréongo was ranked in the last position on all seven BED of Oubritenga’ s province with a success rate of 50.07% CPE.
However, Marie Elise adds that thanks to this first forum, all the actors of education in the locality have understood the challenges that presented themselves and have committed themselves to work to leave this dishonorable position.
The participants in this first forum were unanimous in their resolve to strengthen coaching, conduct lesson studies, organize tests and support courses; establish a framework for consultation with all education stakeholders and partners; provide supplies and food for the school canteen on time; all those measures to improve the provincial success rate at the CPE from 59.88% in 2022 to 70% in 2023.
Marie Elise specifies that back in Nareongo after this provincial forum, she initiated reflections with the management team and the municipal authorities who decided to hold a communal forum on education with the actors and partners of education. Marie Elise recalls that during this communal forum, the difficulties that led to the low success rate at the CPE were identified and possible solutions were identified to boost the success rate of the CPE in the BED of Nagréongo. Actors at all levels made and kept commitments during the school year.
“The municipality and the Communal Coordination of the COGES( CCC) supported the remedial classes, the training of teachers holding the CM2 in the approach "Educational coffee" and the organization of a blank exam.” said Marie Elise.

The combined actions of the educational community of Nagréongo have raised the success rate of the CPE from 50.07% in 2022 to 71,52% in 2023.
It is therefore with pride that Marie Elise participated in this second forum held on August 30 in Ziniaré to share with the political, administrative, religious, and customary authorities, education leaders and actors, the progress made in its BED and the good practices implemented to achieve it.
At the level of the province of Oubritenga, the success rate at the CPE increased from 59.88% in 2022 to 70.14% in 2023. According to Marie Elise, the provincial target that was set at 70% is well achieved and this achievement is the result of the hard work of the field actors and the considerable support they received from the municipal authorities, the CCC and the whole community.
Marie Elise therefore congratulates the PAQER-CEC which allowed this fruitful collaboration between the school and the community. With a smile, she concludes that « PAQER-CEC is a panacea for the quest for quality education ».

Kaliguetta OUIBGA
Education and health program officer