Educational Achievements Honored at School Excellence Day in Zorgho

ZORGHO – The community of Zam gathered on Saturday, October 28, 2023, to celebrate academic achievement and recognize the efforts of approximately fifty distinguished participants in the realm of education during the 2023 edition of the School Excellence Day.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the event was presided over by Stéphanie Tenin Lonfo/Soma, the President of the special delegation (PDS) of Zam, and was held in Rapadama. Antoine Ouédraogo, the Project Manager at MATDS, sponsored the event, which was themed “Excellence in the school environment: a means of promoting quality education in the commune of Zam.”

This year marked the third edition of the event, which relocated to the village of Rapadama, and acknowledged the accomplishments of educational actors across all levels, from preschool to secondary education, including Franco-Arab schools, students with disabilities, and internally displaced students. Recognitions included awards to exemplary preschool establishments, outstanding students in various educational categories, as well as the best teachers and supervisors.

The array of awards comprised school supplies, bicycles, cash, tablets, and certificates of merit. Notably, Isabelle Sandwidi of the Zam “B” school received a motorcycle, school supplies, a certificate of merit, and 15,000 CFA francs for achieving a 100% success rate in the Certificate of Primary Studies (CEP) with her students.

During the event, Lonfo/Soma highlighted the alignment of the day’s theme with that of a provincial education forum and extended gratitude to the ADCZ while urging all community members to support educational endeavors in the Zam department. She acknowledged the efforts of teachers and partners and called upon parents to bolster these efforts for better outcomes in examinations.

Lonfo/Soma also addressed the critical issues of early marriage and the involvement of students in gold panning, urging concerted efforts to eradicate such practices to foster educational prosperity in the region.

Sévérin Tiendrébéogo, the president of the organizing committee, praised the community’s involvement and expressed appreciation to the authorities and educational stakeholders for their contributions to the noted achievements. Claude Congo, representing the ADCZ president, commended Rapadama’s support for the event, and with the 2024 edition set for the village of Wéotinga, he encouraged community preparation and support.

Antoine Ouédraogo, acting as the ceremony’s sponsor, commended the laureates and urged them to continue embracing discipline and excellence. On behalf of the recipients, Balkissa Bonkoungou conveyed her appreciation to the organizers and vowed to sustain the pursuit of excellence.

Salfo Ouédraogo, representing the local basic education district, assured that the collective efforts are yielding fruit, as evidenced by the 87.10% success rate in the 2023 CEP session and positive outcomes in the BEPC and Baccalaureate exams. He expressed gratitude for the ADCZ’s role in organizing the event and congratulated the winners for their accomplishments.