KOUDOUGOU—The Emergency Territorial Development and Resilience Project (PUDTR), launched by Burkina Faso’s transitional government, is on track to alleviate overcrowding in schools across Koudougou with the construction of new, inclusive infrastructure. On Monday, August 19, 2024, Abylaicé Rouamba, the Regional Director of Education, visited several construction sites to assess the progress of work initiated in July.

According to Burkina Information Agency, overcrowding has been a significant challenge in Koudougou, the third-largest city in Burkina Faso, particularly in schools such as Dapoya in Sector 1, Teeltaaba in Sector 5, Écoles Sud in Sector 6, and Wendpanga in Sector 9. Some classrooms reportedly accommodate more than 100 students, far exceeding the official guideline of 50 students per class, leading to concerns from union representatives and local education authorities.

Rouamba expressed satisfaction with the progress observed during his field visit, noting that the completion rate of the construction projects is approximately 50% in less than two months. The construction at Écoles Sud, for example, is advancing without significant obstacles, according to Tanguy Lompo, the head of monitoring and control. Each newly constructed block will include three classrooms, a hall, an office, a store, and modern latrines designed to accommodate individuals with reduced mobility.

The construction companies involved in the project have committed to completing the classrooms in time for the next school year. The CEO of EOM, one of the construction companies, welcomed the Regional Director's visit and encouragement.

Rouamba praised the initiative, highlighting its potential to improve the quality of education in the region. By reducing class sizes, the project is expected to ease tensions between union structures and education authorities, improve teaching conditions, and create a better learning environment for students. He also expressed gratitude to the country’s transitional leaders, particularly the president of the Legislative Assembly of the Transition, for their contributions to the Dapoya schools.