Pô – The Pô Provincial High School celebrated its 40th anniversary in a grand commemorative ceremony held from November 23 to 25, 2023. The event, chaired by Captain Anderson Céleste Médah, the chief of staff of the President of the Transition, took place in Pô, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s history.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Since its establishment in 1983 as the General Education College (CEG) of Pô with just two classrooms and 87 students, the school has grown significantly. Today, as a provincial high school, it boasts 27 classrooms and caters to over 15,000 students. Over these four decades, the school has educated more than 25,000 students.
The theme of the celebration, “Recognition and Accountability for 40 Years of Training,” underscored the institution’s commitment to education. The event featured sporting and recreational activities, as well as a conference focused on the advantages and consequences of ICT in education. The event was praised by administrative and customary authorities, teaching staff, and students for its successful organization.
The celebration aimed to create a platform for dialogue among alumni to address educational challenges and collaborate for the betterment of current and future students’ learning environment.
During the event, students honored their teachers for their pivotal roles in the institution’s success. The high school principal, Roméo Ouédraogo, acknowledged the progress made over the years but also highlighted ongoing challenges, such as the lack of educational materials and sufficient classrooms to accommodate the growing student body.
Joseph André Ouédraogo, the Minister in charge of National Education, paid tribute to the dedicated teachers who have tirelessly worked to combat ignorance and produce quality graduates in various fields. He commended the event organizers for recognizing the teachers’ sacrifices.
The ceremony also included the presentation of certificates of recognition to retired teachers, former principals, and former teachers of the high school. Among the honorees was Simon Compaoré, a mathematics teacher with 30 years of service at the school.
Before the ceremony commenced, the ditanyè was sung to invoke victory over evil forces, and a minute of silence was observed in memory of teachers, students, and defenders of the homeland. In support of the high school, the presidency of Faso contributed eleven million CFA francs, and the Minister in charge of Education donated a photocopier and teaching materials.