Day: February 16, 2024

The United Nations and its various bodies will bring further support to Tunisia so that it achieves its socio-economic development goals,» said UN Resident Coordinator in Tunisia, Arnaud Peral. During a visit he made, on Friday, to the National Migration Observatory, the UN official stressed the importance of effectively addressing the issue migration which would serve the interest of all including transit countries, host countries and migrants. Peral stressed the need to boost international cooperation, promote dialogue and develop a common action plan on the root causes of migration, the protection of vulnerable groups of migrants and refugees, particularly unaccompanied children and women, and access to health services and social integration while respecting the fundamental principles of human rights. Arnaud Peral was accompanied by Head of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Tunisia, Azouz Samri, representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Tunisi a, Monica Noro and Representative of the Nations Fund United for Children (UNICEF) in Tunisia, Michel Le Pechoux. The UN official visit also attended by representatives of the various structures under the Tunisian Ministry of Social Affairs (National Migration Observatory, the Office for Tunisians Abroad and the General Authority for Social Promotion). They expressed Tunisia's commitment to providing protection to migrants as well as facilitate their access to basic services. They also underlined the importance of increasing efforts between national authorities, international organizations and the civil society so as to support vulnerable migrants living in Tunisia who need psychological and social care. The Director General of the National Migration Observatory laid emphasis on consolidating cooperation with various UN bodies as well as share ideas, experiences, expertise and partnerships with all parties. «The Observatory is keen to conduct surveys in areas related to migration such as migration and cl imate change, the link between migration and sustainable development, the importance of statistical data on migrants and their role in governance, developing migration policies, ensuring migrants' rights, fostering social and economic integration and providing protection for Tunisians expatriates,» he said. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

There is need to speed up the implementation of cooperation projects with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), mainly in connection with the digitisation of some administrative services, said Employment and Vocational Training Minister Lotfi Dhieb. This was as he met Thursday with Workd Bank Country Manager for Tunisia Alexandre Arrobbio. The minister placed emphasis on the importance of digitising administrative services geared, in particular, to the needs of job seekers and enterprises under the GO4YOUTH project. This project is carried out in partnership with the European Union, the World Bank and the National Agency for Employment and Self-Employment (French: ANETI) with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of mediation services and better responding to the needs of enterprises, reads a ministry press release. Arrobbio said the bank wants scaled-up partnership with the ministry so as to improve the effectiveness of programmes intended to increase youth employability and promote entrepreneurship. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Ouagadougou: The regional director of post -primary and secondary education (DREPS) of Boucle du Mouhoun, Dr Denis Vimboué , chaired on Thursday February 15, 2024 in Dédougou , the second management council under the school year 2023-2024. The educational review of the first term was one of the highlights of this council. It was with a minute of silence in memory of Séni Diomavé Jean Calvin, Principal Education Advisor at the Lycée Privé Béthel de Dédougou , who died on Monday February 12, 2024 in Dédougou , that the Regional Director introduced the second council of management for the year 2023-2024. The objective of this council was to take stock of the establishment of structures in establishments, back-to-school reports, examine the educational assessment of the first quarter and address preparations for end-of-year school exams. By presenting the various reports, it emerges that in all of the six provincial directorates of post-primary and secondary education in the Boucle du Mouhoun region , almost a ll of the different management and consultation structures in post-primary and secondary establishments primary and secondary are put in place. The actors were encouraged to operate them according to the rules of the art. For this school year, the Boucle du Mouhoun region has 167 public establishments including 94 post-primary and 73 secondary ; 161 private establishments of which 61 are approved. The educational report for the first quarter shows that 1,636 classes are functional with an enrollment of 75,126 students with a success rate of 52.11%. After analysis of this assessment, the factors which affect it are among others insecurity in certain localities with psychological impacts on students (stress, demotivation, etc.), absences of students during lessons, insufficient school textbooks in certain establishments, the failure to start the school canteen in the establishments. For the various post-primary and secondary school exams, the region has provisionally registered 790 candidates for the BEP a nd CAP and will have to compose in 04 juries and 02 secondary centers . As for the BEPC, 15,973 candidates were able to submit their applications, an increase of 379 candidates compared to last season. These candidates will compose in 64 juries and 77 secondary centers. For the baccalaureate, the statistics are not yet available in the sense that registrations end on February 15, 2024. The Regional Director, Dr Denis Vimboué, congratulated the various stakeholders for the results obtained during the past quarter and urged them to be more committed for more convincing results in a context of resilience. ' The assessments that we have just examined highlight the efforts made by the various stakeholders for the proper functioning of our structures. I would like to emphasize the need for us to maintain the education system in our region, ' he said. Mr. Vimboué invited them to take into account the aspects of strict respect for hierarchy in the processing of career files, the transmission within the prescribe d deadlines of data and other expected reports, the banishment of any act of corruption, the escalation of time for supporting documents, proper budgeting of funds allocated to examinations in order to avoid repayments of high amounts. He also took the opportunity to share with the members of the council the orientations received from the head of the ministry in charge of national education. These guidelines invite those in charge to listen to those on the ground, to manage structures by encouraging everyone's participation, to innovate while knowing how to take responsibility. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: The regional director of post -primary and secondary education (DREPS) of Boucle du Mouhoun, Dr Denis Vimboué , chaired on Thursday February 15, 2024 in Dédougou , the second management council under the school year 2023-2024. The educational review of the first term was one of the highlights of this council. It was with a minute of silence in memory of Séni Diomavé Jean Calvin, Principal Education Advisor at the Lycée Privé Béthel de Dédougou , who died on Monday February 12, 2024 in Dédougou , that the Regional Director introduced the second council of management for the year 2023-2024. The objective of this council was to take stock of the establishment of structures in establishments, back-to-school reports, examine the educational assessment of the first quarter and address preparations for end-of-year school exams. By presenting the various reports, it emerges that in all of the six provincial directorates of post-primary and secondary education in the Boucle du Mouhoun region , almost a ll of the different management and consultation structures in post-primary and secondary establishments primary and secondary are put in place. The actors were encouraged to operate them according to the rules of the art. For this school year, the Boucle du Mouhoun region has 167 public establishments including 94 post-primary and 73 secondary ; 161 private establishments of which 61 are approved. The educational report for the first quarter shows that 1,636 classes are functional with an enrollment of 75,126 students with a success rate of 52.11%. After analysis of this assessment, the factors which affect it are among others insecurity in certain localities with psychological impacts on students (stress, demotivation, etc.), absences of students during lessons, insufficient school textbooks in certain establishments, the failure to start the school canteen in the establishments. For the various post-primary and secondary school exams, the region has provisionally registered 790 candidates for the BEP a nd CAP and will have to compose in 04 juries and 02 secondary centers . As for the BEPC, 15,973 candidates were able to submit their applications, an increase of 379 candidates compared to last season. These candidates will compose in 64 juries and 77 secondary centers. For the baccalaureate, the statistics are not yet available in the sense that registrations end on February 15, 2024. The Regional Director, Dr Denis Vimboué, congratulated the various stakeholders for the results obtained during the past quarter and urged them to be more committed for more convincing results in a context of resilience. ' The assessments that we have just examined highlight the efforts made by the various stakeholders for the proper functioning of our structures. I would like to emphasize the need for us to maintain the education system in our region, ' he said. Mr. Vimboué invited them to take into account the aspects of strict respect for hierarchy in the processing of career files, the transmission within the prescribe d deadlines of data and other expected reports, the banishment of any act of corruption, the escalation of time for supporting documents, proper budgeting of funds allocated to examinations in order to avoid repayments of high amounts. He also took the opportunity to share with the members of the council the orientations received from the head of the ministry in charge of national education. These guidelines invite those in charge to listen to those on the ground, to manage structures by encouraging everyone's participation, to innovate while knowing how to take responsibility. Source: Burkina Information Agency An agreement was inked Friday by Tunisia and the Arab Board of Heath Specialisations (ABHS) to set up a coordination office in Tunisia, reads a Health Ministry press release. The agreement was signed by Health Minister Ali Mrabet and ABHS Acting Chairman and Jordan's Health Minister Feras Ibrahim Hawari, on the fringes of the periodic meeting of the ABHS's Board held on February 15-17 in Amman, Jordan. The setting up of an office in Tunisia is designed to attract doctors from neighbouring Arab countries to attend regular training courses in Tunisian hospitals in partnership with the national specialisation authority and health science universities, institutes and schools. Mrabet highlighted the importance of this move in building the capacities of Tunisian and foreign doctors, in line with international standards. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Ouagadougou: The Regional Director of Post-Primary and Secondary Education (DREPS) of Boucle du Mouhoun, Dr Denis Vimboué, chaired on Thursday February 15, 2024 in Dédougou, the second management council for the year school 2023-2024. The educational review of the first term was one of the highlights of this council. It was with a minute of silence in memory of Séni Diomavé Jean Calvin, Principal Education Advisor at the Lycée Privé Béthel de Dédougou, who died on Monday February 12, 2024 in Dédougou, that the Regional Director introduced the second board of directors to the title of the year 2023-2024. The objective of this council was to take stock of the establishment of structures in establishments, back-to-school reports, examine the educational assessment of the first quarter and address preparations for end-of-year school exams. By presenting the various reports, it appears that in all of the six provincial directors of post-primary and secondary education in the Boucle du Mouhoun region, almost al l of the different management and consultation structures in post-primary and secondary establishments primary and secondary are put in place. The actors were encouraged to operate them according to the rules of the art. For this school year, the Boucle du Mouhoun region has 167 public establishments including 94 post-primary and 73 secondary; 161 private establishments of which 61 are approved. The educational report for the first quarter shows that 1,636 classes are functional with an enrollment of 75,126 students with a success rate of 52.11%. After analysis of this assessment, the factors which affect it are among others insecurity in certain localities with psychological impacts on students (stress, demotivation, etc.), absences of students during lessons, insufficient school textbooks in certain establishments, the failure to start the school canteen in the establishments. For the various post-primary and secondary school exams, the region has provisionally registered 790 candidates for the BEP and CAP and will have to compose in 04 juries and 02 secondary centers. As for the BEPC, 15,973 candidates were able to submit their applications, an increase of 379 candidates compared to last season. These candidates will compose in 64 juries and 77 secondary centers. For the baccalaureate, the statistics are not yet available in the sense that registrations end on February 15, 2024. The Regional Director, Dr Denis Vimboué, congratulated the various stakeholders for the results obtained during the past quarter and urged them to be more committed for more convincing results in a context of resilience. 'The assessments that we have just examined highlight the efforts made by the various stakeholders for the proper functioning of our structures. I would like to emphasize the need for us to maintain the education system in our region,' he said. Vimboué invited them to take into account the aspects of strict respect for hierarchy in the processing of career files, the transmission within the prescribed deadline s of data and other expected reports, the banning of any act of corruption, the timely reporting of supporting documents, proper budgeting of funds allocated to examinations in order to avoid repayments of high amounts. He also took the opportunity to share with the members of the council the orientations received from the head of the ministry in charge of national education. These guidelines invite those in charge to listen to those on the ground, to manage structures by encouraging everyone's participation, to innovate while knowing how to take responsibility. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: At the end of their meeting Thursday in Ouagadougou, the ministers of the Alliance of Sahel States condemned, in the final communiqué, 'the illegal and illegitimate confiscation of the assets of the Republic of Niger by UEMOA through the Central Bank of West African States. The ministers of the Alliance of Sahel States closed their one-day meeting on Thursday evening in Ouagadougou, which allowed them to trace the paths of the Alliance of Sahel States through important proposals and recommendations. They condemned in the statement of conclusions read by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabè Abroad, by Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, 'the illegal and illegitimate confiscation of the assets of the Republic of Niger by UEMOA through the Central Bank of West African States. Faced with this situation, they expressed their solidarity with the government and the people of Niger and demanded the restitution 'without delay' of the said assets. Regarding the charter of the fut ure Confederation, the meeting of ministers did not consider it necessary to revise it. Thus, taking into account the immediate withdrawal of the AES from ECOWAS, the ministers agreed that the Treaty establishing the confederation takes note. Moreover, the body decided to base the treaty on historical references specific to the people of the Sahel. They also opted for an institutional architecture including summit sessions of heads of state, sessions of the council of ministers and sessions of representatives of parliaments. Regarding the issue of the Liptako Gourma Authority, the meeting opted to include the subject on the agenda of the next summit of heads of state. Also, the ministers adopted the draft graphic reference charter of the AES, and approved the taking of urgent actions for its appropriation by the populations. In addition, the Ouagadougou meeting allowed the ministers to formulate several recommendations such as the development of the road map for the Confederation of Sahel States, the acce leration of the development of the AES graphic charter, the elaboration as quickly as possible of projects and additional protocols relating to the distribution and powers between the Confederation and the States. The ministers also recommended the urgent development of a draft additional protocol relating to the free movement of people and goods, defense and security to deal with the implications linked to the withdrawal of States from the ECOWAS AES, the establishment of a consultation framework to manage the implications linked to the immediate withdrawal from ECOWAS and the identification of strategic partners. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: ECOWAS took note of the decision taken by the Senegalese Constitutional Council which opposes the desire of President Macky Sall to postpone the date of his replacement and asked the 'competent authorities' to set a date for hold the election, in accordance with the decision of the Sages. In a press release signed on February 16 in Abuja and broadcast on tweeter, the ECOWAS Commission 'requests the competent authorities to set the date of the election', in accordance with the decision taken on February 15 by the Constitutional Council having canceled the postponement of the election as President Macky Sall wanted. The commission 'invites all stakeholders to respect the rule of law in order to guarantee the holding of a free, inclusive and transparent election,' the press release added. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Some 300 coronavirus-vaccine shots are administered each week in Tunisia, said Director General of the National Pharmacovigilance Centre and member of the Scientific Committee to Combat the Coronavirus Riadh Daghfous. The vaccine currently administered in Tunisia and worldwide is the "monovalent Pfizer," which adapts to new strains of COVID-19 and has proven its efficiency against the OMICRON variant (XBB 1.5), the same source told TAP. "This new vaccine has been administered in Tunisia for two weeks now, and the vaccination pace is getting better," he added. Tunisia had obtained authorisation for the marketing of this vaccine in September 2023, Daghfous indicated, specifying that the monovalent Pfizer vaccine (for the OMICRON variant XBB 1.5) has a long shelf life. Vaccination is crucial for getting protected against COVID-19, he affirmed, adding that the contribution of the vaccine is paramount for strengthening the immune defences. Vaccine side effects generally appear right after vaccination or afte r a few weeks at most, he pointed out, specifying the national Pharmacovigilance Centre has received 3,318 reports of people suffering side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine since the beginning of the national vaccination campaign in March 2021. The total number of vaccine shots administered has exceeded 13 million since the start of the national jab campaign to date. Daghfous also said that the centre has received 4,737 cases of vaccine hesitancy. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Ouagadougou: The technical services of the Ministry in charge of Energy have just validated a new national rural electrification strategy which should make it possible to bring rural electrification to a record level of 80%. Under the auspices of the General Directorate of Energy, a document relating to the national strategy for rural electrification (SNER) over the period 2024-2028 was validated during a workshop on February 15, 2024. Combined with an action plan, the strategy will help boost the rate of rural electrification by 80%, reports the communications services of the Ministry of Energy. The document is 'our roadmap and our compass towards a bright electric future for our villages and rural communities,' said the Director General of Energy, Dr Alidou Koutou. The level of electrification in the area is very low. It is estimated at 5.49% in 2022 Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: More than 3.7 million people in difficulty have benefited from support from the Burkinabe government during 2023, according to a report established by the Ministry in charge of Humanitarian Action and consulted on Friday by the AIB. 'A total of 3,716,445 people have benefited from assistance of various kinds', in food shelter, in utility materials or even in psychological support,' reports the communications department of the ministry in charge of Humanitarian Action '100,457 women benefited from ordinary credits to finance their Income Generating Activities (IGA)' indicates the source which also notes that 15,551 orphans and vulnerable children were educated thanks to public support. According to raw data, the execution rate of the ministry's 2023 activity program is estimated at some 82.30%. Members of the government are currently being evaluated by Prime Minister Apollinaire Kyelèm de Tambèla. Source: Burkina Information Agency