Kourittenga: The High Commissioner of Kourittenga Province, Moctar Ilboudo, alongside representatives from various institutions, commenced the 2026 Baccalaureate exam session by opening the first exam papers at the Pouytenga Municipal High School. This year, the province saw 2,131 candidates, including 939 boys and 1,192 girls, participating in the exams. Notably, there is a significant drop of over 300 candidates compared to previous years.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the High Commissioner encouraged students to approach their exams with calm and self-assurance. He emphasized the importance of relying on one's own knowledge and cautioned against any attempts at cheating. "Be at ease, stay focused, and trust in the work you have done throughout the school year. Success depends first and foremost on your personal efforts," he advised.

The Provincial Director of Secondary Education, Vocational and Technical Training, Dieudonn© Belemssigri, also addressed the candidates, urging them to remain focused and disciplined. He highlighted the importance of determination to achieve results that would satisfy both their own expectations and those of their families. The director further noted the decrease in candidate numbers, attributing it to a growing interest among the youth in gold panning and other income-generating activities that have distracted them from their education.

Belemssigri called on students to prioritize their education, underscoring its role as a critical lever for both personal and collective advancement.