GOURCY — Following a recent policy shift, the government of Burkina has entrusted the National Food Security Stock Management Company (SONAGESS) with the task of delivering food to school canteens across twelve regions, excluding the Center. This decision was finalized after a detailed meeting with education stakeholders in Gourcy on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.

According to Burkina Information Agency, from the Directorate for the Allocation of Specific Means to Schools (DAMSE), the ministry’s initiative aims to address past issues related to the timeliness and quality of food deliveries previously managed by local municipalities. The DAMSE representatives detailed the rationale behind the government’s decision to centralize the distribution of food and school supplies, citing frequent delays and quality control problems with local deliveries as primary concerns.

The meeting involved discussions on how the new system would be implemented and sought feedback from local education officials, teachers, and parents to enhance future operations. The officials emphasized that SONAGESS’s involvement is expected to improve the efficiency and reliability of food delivery to schools.

Further, it was announced that school supplies would be distributed to Basic Education Districts (CEB) by the end of September 2024. The stakeholders at the meeting, including agents from the provincial directorate of education and representatives from the CEBs of Gourcy 1 and 2, expressed support for the new approach but emphasized the necessity for the ministry to perform better than the municipalities in executing these deliveries.

The discussion also highlighted the importance of robust monitoring and the provision of adequate resources to provincial directorates and CEBs to ensure the success of this new distribution strategy. The meeting underscored a collective commitment to improving the educational infrastructure by enhancing the delivery and quality of school essentials.