OUAGADOUGOU: Burkina Faso’s Chief of Staff of the President, Captain C©leste Anderson M©dah, commenced the construction of approximately forty amphitheaters, classrooms, and offices across various universities in the nation. This ambitious project aims to alleviate the pressing issue of overcrowding in educational institutions by significantly expanding the available infrastructure.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Captain M©dah laid the foundation stone for a new 1,000-seat amphitheater at Thomas Sankara University on Thursday, January 2, 2025. This facility will also feature 15 tutorial rooms, two modular rooms with a capacity of 200 seats each, 20 offices for faculty members, and a video surveillance room. The project is a component of a presidential initiative focused on delivering quality education to all citizens.
The initiative, managed by the National Office of Major Projects of Burkina, seeks to modernize the educational system to meet the growing demands of the student population, Captain M©dah explained. Over a five-year period, it aims to construct around forty amphitheaters, with capacities of 1,000 and 500 seats, to ease congestion in universities struggling with infrastructure shortages.
Prof. Adjim Thiombiano, the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, stated that these new educational facilities will help reduce academic backlogs in the universities. The project also includes building state-of-the-art laboratories for doctoral students, teachers, and researchers, providing an environment conducive to innovation and research.
Minister Thiombiano noted that this initiative’s first phase focuses on the construction, modernization, and security of educational facilities. He emphasized the government’s commitment to equipping Burkina Faso’s universities and research centers with the tools necessary to respond to global changes, positioning education and research as foundations for sustainable and inclusive development.
Zakaria Sor©, the national coordinator of the presidential initiative for quality education, mentioned that the construction will be carried out by local Burkinabe architects. These professionals have incorporated environmentally sustainable principles into their designs, reflecting a commitment to ecological considerations in the development process.