Koudougou: The starting signal for the written and oral baccalaureate exams for the 2025 session was given Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. at the Saint Joseph Moukassa college in Koudougou by the governor, with 11,278 candidates in the running in the Centre-West region, noted the AIB.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the launch took place in the presence of the interim governor of the Centre-West region, Adama Jean Yves B©r©, and the regional director of secondary education and vocational and technical training of the Centre-West (DRESFPT-COS), Bienzi Didier Par©. This marks the beginning of a significant period for the candidates in the region.

The 2025 baccalaureate session in the Centre-West region will witness 11,278 candidates attempting their luck, consisting of 5,777 boys and 5,501 girls. General education has the majority of candidates, with 10,019 (4,880 boys and 5,139 girls) enrolled across series A4, D, and C.

In the realm of technical and vocational education and training, there are 1,259 candidates (897 boys and 362 girls) pursuing technological and vocational baccalaureates.

This year sees a decrease of approximately 300 candidates compared to the 2024 session, which registered about 11,600 candidates. Regional Director Bienzi Didier Par© attributes this decrease mainly to the security situation and the emergence of new technical and vocational education institutions in other regions of Burkina Faso. The Centre-West region, previously a hub for these courses, now sees candidates opting for educational opportunities closer to their hometowns.

During the launch at Jury 251, the interim governor, Adama Jean Yves B©r©, conveyed a message of encouragement to the candidates, stating, "What will be asked of them is what they have seen in class. I would say, it was their teachers who suggested the topics that were chosen." He also cautioned against any attempts at cheating, a practice observed in previous exams.

The governor also took the opportunity to commend the dedication of the teaching and administrative staff, whose efforts ensured a peaceful school year. Additionally, he praised the defense and security forces for their critical role in maintaining security throughout the region, facilitating the smooth conduct of the exams.