Burkina Faso has introduced a compulsory patriotic immersion programme for all students sitting national examinations, a move aimed at reinforcing national values amid ongoing security challenges.
President Ibrahim Traoré, who also serves as head of state and chair of the Council of Ministers, signed decree No. 2025-0780 mandating participation in the initiative for candidates of the Brevet d’études du premier cycle (BEPC), Certificat d’aptitude professionnelle (CAP), Brevet d’études professionnelles (BEP), and the Baccalauréat.
The decree establishes a programme combining physical training with civic, disciplinary, and patriotic education, intended to strengthen the national spirit among the youth.
Completion of the immersion will be certified by an official attestation, required for enrollment in secondary school, BEP, or the first year of university in public and private institutions, although exemptions may apply. The attestation does not replace the national patriotic service.
Any student failing to attend the programme faces sanctions, including mandatory community service under the penal code and participation in the next session of the immersion.
A coordinating committee will oversee the implementation, while an interministerial order will specify practical arrangements, including age requirements, duration, locations, and exemptions.
Addressing recent baccalaureate graduates, President Traoré described the immersion as a preparation for life in a country “in revolution” and facing conflict.
He stressed that participants should take pride in joining “a generation of citizens who are patriotic, disciplined, united, and ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for the homeland.”
“Students must learn never to betray their country and to resist disinformation and recruitment attempts by imperialist forces,” he said, framing the programme as an essential foundation for civic responsibility and national loyalty.
President Traoré also noted that the Farafina Institute of Black Peoples would continue to support education on Burkina Faso’s history, current challenges, and future prospects, encouraging participants to share their knowledge and values with peers who are not directly involved in the immersion.
The initiative comes as Burkina Faso continues to confront jihadist attacks, despite government claims of regaining control over much of its territory, highlighting the emphasis placed on civic preparedness alongside security efforts.
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