By Douglas Jones
In a passionate address delivered on National Education Day, August 23rd, the President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, announced an ambitious plan to build "great schools" within the country. This move aims to curb the long-standing issue of brain drain, which he attributed to imperialist strategies involving scholarships that entice the nation's brightest minds to study abroad, often resulting in their permanent relocation.
"For a long time, imperialists have been draining our brains through scholarships. Once they're abroad, they rarely return home," Traoré stated, expressing a growing frustration with the current educational dynamics that see many of Burkina Faso's talents flourishing in foreign lands rather than contributing to their homeland's development.
To counter this, President Traoré called for a concerted national effort to establish educational and technological self-sufficiency. "We want to build our own great schools here, train our own elites so that they can serve the people of Burkina Faso," he declared. The president emphasized the importance of developing local institutions that could rival international ones in quality and prestige, ensuring that Burkina Faso's youth have access to top-tier education without leaving their country.
Furthermore, Captain Traoré underscored the need for creating polytechnic and technological universities, which would foster an environment for Burkinabe children to realize their full potential and dedicate their talents to the nation's progress. "Let's make these initiatives work so we can establish the polytechnic and technological universities we need for these children to express their full potential and work for the benefit of our homeland," he concluded.
This bold educational vision, if realized, could significantly alter Burkina Faso's trajectory, transforming it into a hub of learning and innovation, and reversing the tide of talent loss that has plagued the nation for decades.
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