Rural Education in Upper Volta

Upper Volta is experimenting with a new kind of educational programme which emphasizes nutrition, agriculture and health. Special 3-year schools are being set up for young people from the ages of 12-15, who have had previous formal education. The curriculum stresses agricultural studies, in addition to basic reading, writing and arithmetic. Special teachers are being trained in 10-month courses. As soon as teachers are available, the local communities are encouraged to build simple rural education centres with a small amount of Government assistance. It is expected that 20 new school for girls and 120 schools for boys will be opened in 1967/1968. Teaching in the girls' schools will include home economics and child-rearing.
Pottery class at the Rural Education Centre for young men in Kounda near Ouagadougou. [No exact date]