Coronavirus: Burkina Faso launches radio to provide lessons to students at home

24 Avril 2020

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, April 24 (Infosplusgabon) - Burkina Faso's Education ministry on Thursday a radio frequency to provide lessons for students because they cannot attend school under prevailing circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic and insecurity in several regions of the country, official sources said.

"Broadcasting on its new frequency 107.4 MHz, the school radio will enable the ministry to meet the security and health challenges facing the country," said a statement from the Ministry of Education.

With this frequency, the ministry will be able to broadcast a greater number of programmes per day and reach more children in Burkina Faso, said the Minister of National Education, Prof. Stanislas Ouaro.

"Also, school radio will now offer an educational programme to the general public, help children out of school in areas with high-security challenges, train teachers and supervisors on a permanent basis and strengthen the general level of public culture," he said.

"It must be said that the Burkinabe education system is facing two major challenges. The one related to security which has caused the closure of more than 2,500 schools, and the health challenge which has caused the closure of all schools since 16 March 2020.

"We have worked on the drafting of a response plan adopted on 16 April 2020 in the Council of Ministers for the continuity of education through the media and a plan to reopen schools for greater efficiency. Thus, all ICTs through the online press, television, radio, and digital media will be used to facilitate teaching-learning," added the minister.

However, Ouaro pointed out that distance education does not replace teachers but is a means of giving students the opportunity to continue learning while waiting for the implementation of the plan to reopen schools.

With seven new cases confirmed on Thursday, Burkina Faso so far has 616 people who tesed positive for COVID-19, with 41 deaths, 410 recoveries, and 165 patients under treatment.

The government "thanks all actors for their commitment and determination in the fight against the Coronavirus disease and recalls that COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease and urges the population to discipline and responsibility to break the chain of transmission," said a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/PLM/GABON2020

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