Ouagadougou: Burkina Faso’s educational and technological sectors are under the spotlight, as recent reports address the illegality of doctorates awarded by private higher education institutions and the launch of the 18th edition of Digital Week.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT) held a session on November 14, 2023, discussing issues in public technical and professional training, including the unauthorized offering of doctoral programs by higher education institutions. This session comes amid concerns over the legitimacy of doctorates awarded by some private institutions. The state daily Sidwaya reported that Adjima Thiombiano, Minister of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, stated that private institutions offering doctoral training were requested to submit their opening files, indicating the government’s commitment to regulating and ensuring the quality of higher education.

Le Pays, another private daily, highlighted that the Minister stressed the importance of adhering to specifications for opening doctoral level training. These specifications are intended to guide institutions and ensure the academic integrity of doctoral programs.

On a different note, the same newspaper covered the opening of the 18th edition of Digital Week in Ouagadougou on November 14, 2023. The event, presided over by Prime Minister Me Apollinaire Kyélem de Tambèla, focuses on digital technology as a tool for inclusion and crisis resistance. L’Observateur Paalga, the dean of private daily newspapers, reported that Mali is the guest country of honor at this event, with Niger also present at the opening. The Week aims to showcase the role of digital technology in enhancing governance across political, economic, social, and administrative domains.

The Prime Minister, Apollinaire Joachimson Kyélem de Tambèla, emphasized digital technology’s potential in governance enhancement. The event’s opening remarks were delivered by Aminata Zerbo/Sabane, Minister of Digital Transition, Posts, and Electronic Communications.

These developments in Burkina Faso’s higher education and digital technology sectors highlight the country’s efforts to uphold academic standards and embrace technological advancements in various aspects of governance and society.