Nayala: Students in the Gossina Basic Education District (CEB) were made aware on Thursday of the dangers of early marriage and illegal gold mining in schools, during a ceremony that mobilized customary, administrative, military and teacher authorities.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the session was opened by the representative of the traditional chief, Mr. Lawagoule Ki, who welcomed the authorities from Ouagadougou, Toma, and Gossina. He commended the initiative and offered blessings for a brighter future for the students.

The spokesperson for the Gossina Basic Education District, Mr. Nakelse Nestor, recalled that early marriage and illegal gold mining are now major causes of school dropout in the commune. He noted that these practices keep children, especially girls and boys, away from classrooms and jeopardize their future.

Mr. Nestor expressed hope that the forum theatre performance presented by the Ka Da Wo Ko Doro troupe from Toma would lead to strong commitments to strengthen the fight aga
inst these issues. In his address, the president of the Gossina special delegation, Siebi Ahmed Ouattara, congratulated the CEB teaching staff and reaffirmed his willingness to support educational stakeholders for the well-being of children.

The representative of the Provincial Directorate of Preschool, Primary and Non-Formal Education of Nayala, Some/Kagambega Rose, encouraged the organizers and stressed the need to fight against early marriage and illegal gold mining, while promoting the schooling of girls and children with disabilities. The head of the delegation from the Directorate for the Promotion of Inclusive Education, Girls’ Education and Gender also called for a renewed commitment to supporting children with disabilities.

The ceremony concluded with a strong commitment from the representative of the traditional chief, who expressed determination to collaborate with educational stakeholders in combating the two challenges that undermine the academic success of children in Gossina.