As in many developing countries, education in Burkina Faso tends to favour males. Women are not actively encouraged to become better educated, and in rural communities where daily survival is the priority, there is no perceived need even if the opportunity were available.

As a result, literacy stands nationally at 12.8% for those over 15 years, but for women this is 8.1% and for men 18.5%. The majority of literate people are centred around the larger cities such as Ouagadougou, the capital, or Bobo-Dioulasso where literacy and numeracy can be translated into better jobs with higher income.

30% of the country’s 7 year olds attend primary school although this is much reduced in more rural areas where there may be no school at all. Class sizes can be anywhere in size up to 100 pupils per year group and teaching resources are scarce or non-existent.

10% make it through to secondary school, with only about 1% achieving tertiary (University level) education.

Kodeni School Standards

Based in Sabaribougou, a village within the town of Kodeni, our church governed primary school opened in October 2015.

In November 2016 and in February 2017 visits to the school by expert teachers with good French skills have concluded that the educational standards of the school are extremely high, and that the learning environment is fun and engaging. At February 2017, after running for 1.5 years our observers noted that learning outcomes were at least as high as those for a British school.

Girls comprise 50% of the school’s roll.