Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – Bassolma Bazié, the Minister of State in charge of the Civil Service in Burkina Faso, extended an apology to the nation’s teaching staff this Saturday. His apology follows the circulation of a video in which he suggested that certain benefits enjoyed by teachers could be categorized as Common Funds (premiums).

According to Burkina Information Agency, During a broadcast on the National Radio of Burkina on the evening of December 30, 2023, Bazié addressed the issue directly. “As a former teacher myself, I understand the concerns raised by my colleagues regarding the video. I apologize for any misunderstanding and assure them of my support. I plan to further clarify the context of my statement for those who were not present,” Bazié stated.

Approximately ten days prior, a video featuring Bazié went viral on social media. In this video, he claimed that all civil service sectors, including teaching, received some form of common funds or bonuses. Specifically, he mentioned that the allocation of school places to teachers’ children could be considered a benefit. This remark sparked significant backlash from teachers across various social media platforms.