Access to a high-quality education in good conditions remains a major current challenge, both for students and their families, for their teachers and, because of its leveraging effect, for communities as a whole.

The challenges

School attendance rates rise in line with the rate of access to electricity. Similarly, the human development index increases at the same time as access to electricity. – According to a UNDP study.

The solutions

Access to electricity and water for education meets clearly identified needs, the solutions to which are simple to implement:

1Allow students to do homework at school after class

Children, and especially those who return every night from high school or college, find a lighted classroom is an excellent place to study in good conditions. When the weather is bad, and when the classroom has shutters, there is enough light to close the windows to provide protection against the cold or sandstorms.

2Allow the teacher to develop the lessons with certain students and to prepare for the next day

Thanks to the lighting in the classroom, the teacher is able to give extra evening lessons to students who need them and to prepare the programme for the next few days.

3Provide running water

Most schools in rural areas do not have access to running water. Students often carry their gourd on the way to school, sometimes ten kilometres away. Installing a water supply point in school buildings allows them to access clean water and to adopt hygienic practices, such as washing their hands.

4Provide access to information technology

Creating a computer room allows young people to use computers, to learn about information and communication technologies and to benefit from innovative educational content.

5Host adult literacy classes

In 2018 757 million adults and 115 million young people worldwide were illiterate. An illuminated classroom welcomes adults in the evening for reading and writing lessons.

6Support training for the electrical trades and contribute to a better induction of young people into the job market

Some of our projects consist in electrifying a vocational training centre. The electricity is used for lighting classrooms but also in the use of educational tools that are needed for training. The volunteer teams often provide workshop training to a team of apprentices to combine theory and practice.

7Retain teaching resources in villages

We are still studying the possibility of electrifying not only the school but, in addition, that of the principal’s and the teachers’ accommodation, so as to offer them better living conditions and thus reduce the turnover of teachers in isolated rural areas.

8Participate in social links

In these regions the school is also a meeting and social place where village councils can be held or film screenings can be organized when the community has a video projector.

Burkina Faso