Burkina Faso education is mainly influenced by the education system of France, their colonizer.
Burkina Faso education system, though, has incorporated certain changes but the basic structure of education followed from French model remains the same. The syllabus, the textbooks, exam schedules at different levels are all centrally determined by the Ministry of Basic Education and the Ministry of Higher education and Scientific Research. Education in Burkina Faso can be structured into
- Primary or basic education
- Secondary education
- Higher Education
- Basic education of Burkina Faso is free and the education is compulsory till the age of sixteen.
Primary Education
The primary school education begins at the age of seven, when the students are enrolled in class one. The students continue in the primary schools for six years and then passing the final exam register themselves in the secondary schools. Only a handful of the primary school students enroll themselves in the secondary schools.
Secondary Education
Secondary Education is again categorized into four year study program in the junior high school level and three year general study program culminating in the baccalaureate exam at senior secondary level.
Higher Education
Higher education signifies university education in three established institutions in the country. They are
- University of Ouagadougou
- Polytechnic University of Bobo-Dioulasso
- Teachers Training College of Koudougou
The adult literacy levels are very low in the country. The literacy rates among the adult women are almost half than adult males in the country.
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