Cascades: The Minister of Basic Education, Literacy and Promotion of National Languages, Jacques Sosthène Dingara, launched the activities of the Vocational and Non-Formal Training Center (CFPNF) of Koutoura for this 2024-2025 school year. The launch event took place on Monday, November 25, 2024, marking a significant step in the educational and vocational landscape of the region.According to Burkina Information Agency, the Minister used the occasion to call upon opinion leaders, social partners, customary and religious notables, educators, political and administrative authorities, the educational community, and friends of Burkina Faso to work towards enhancing the center's visibility and developing its training potential. The CFPNF of Koutoura, a public vocational training institution, focuses on agro-sylvo-pastoral and fishing vocations, using both French and national languages as mediums of instruction.Opened in 2009, the CFPNF-Koutoura welcomes young people aged 16 to 25 from CEBNF, traditional struct ures, and CPAF, requiring a Cours Moyen level of study. The center offers a range of training programs in agriculture, livestock farming, fish farming, beekeeping, agri-food processing, medicinal plants, traditional medicine, saponification, wire mesh making, and entrepreneurship. These two-year courses culminate in certifications such as the CQP agricultural farmer certificate.For the 2024-2025 school year, 110 boarders, including 28 girls and 82 boys, have enrolled, with 23 participants under the presidential initiative program for youth training. The center is staffed by 14 public sector employees and three non-permanent employees.The reopening of the center follows instructions from the Head of State, who responded to community requests during a regional visit. The Minister emphasized the government's commitment to investing in agro-sylvo-pastoral professions, recognizing the agricultural sector as the primary provider of jobs, engaging over 80% of active workers in the economy. The establishment of C FPNF centers in Koutoura and Dori in 2009 aligns with this goal.The Koutoura Center had been closed for five years due to various reasons. Minister Dingara highlighted the need to reopen the center to meet community aspirations and outlined ongoing efforts to design curricula that incorporate significant endogenous values, along with professional and technical training development.UNICEF's support was acknowledged, with the resident representative and colleagues covering rehabilitation costs of approximately 45,000,000 CFA francs. The Minister encouraged learners across Burkina Faso to dedicate themselves to their studies, recognizing them as the hope for the future.Director of CFPNF-K, Seydou Barro, expressed gratitude to national authorities for initiatives aimed at boosting agro-sylvo-pastoral and fishing activities and strengthening youth capacities for sustainable development. The initiative was also applauded by the general delegate of learners, Issouf Diallo, who committed to following the traini ng diligently to become inspiring models of rural development.
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