Ouagadougou: The Ministry in charge of Higher Education has introduced a groundbreaking decree mandating prior authorization for Burkinabe students intending to study abroad. This measure aims to shield students from unrecognized institutions, inadequate training programs, and environment-related risks while ensuring their diplomas are duly acknowledged.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the government is taking significant steps to establish a national database for Burkinabe students overseas. The focus is on verifying the accreditation of host institutions, combating the proliferation of fake diplomas and fictitious institutions, enhancing consular support, and facilitating students' reintegration into the professional sphere upon their return. Professor Samuel Par©, Secretary General of the Ministry, articulated these objectives during a recent press conference.
The decree, enacted on June 25, 2026, mandates that all Burkinabe citizens seeking to pursue studies, training, or internships abroad must secure prior authorization from the Minister of Higher Education, irrespective of their funding source. This regulation also encompasses scholarship holders from foreign, intergovernmental, or international institutions within Burkina Faso.
Professor Par© further announced that applications for overseas study permission are free and will soon be available online. The ministry is preparing to release a statement detailing the required documents and application procedures.
For students currently studying abroad, a three-month window has been granted to regularize their status under the new decree. Professor Par© emphasized that this policy change addresses the increasing number of students falling prey to unscrupulous networks directing them to non-accredited institutions or programs lacking academic value. He highlighted the risks of isolation and lack of institutional support, which can endanger students' safety, future careers, and dignity.
Dr. Judica«l Wendkouni Djiguemd©, Director of Legal Affairs and Cooperation, warned that failure to comply with the authorization requirement would result in the non-recognition of any obtained grades or diplomas.
The decree introduces thirteen scholarship categories, including the patriotic scholarship for training or research funding by individuals or legal entities, the registration scholarship for covering registration fees, and the specific indigence scholarship for students facing severe hardship. The updated scholarship allocation criteria emphasize strategic study fields, academic merit, and age, eliminating parental income as a criterion.
Additionally, the commitment period for scholarship recipients to remain available for State service post-studies has been extended to 15 years.