This volume is the result of six years research in 'Overcoming Obstacles to Female Education in Burkina Faso'. It narrates how Christians and religious groups can speed up female education and contribute to the socio-economic growth of Burkina Faso. Religious culture and traditions were seen as a problem to female education. However, the evidence from this research shows that Christianity is also part of the solution to a quality female education, thus a key factor of socio economic growth of the country.
The author is currently working to advocate with families, churches/NGOs and the Government of Burkina Faso for a quality access to Female Education as a strategy to poverty reduction. This independent research comes along side others to inform policy makers, researchers, practitioners, aid agencies, religious communities and governments for a greater involvement in female education as one of the appropriate strategies for achieving Education for All.
This unique contribution, based on actual results, points to the root causes of, and possible solutions to, the problems facing female education in Burkina Faso and in the developing world generally. The particularity of Dr Ouedraogo's contribution to the debate is that it is independent and it adds insights into the existing research undertaken by both government and international agencies.
I have found Dr Ouedraogo's work insightful but it also demonstrates a solid academic study across three languages and different cultures. I trust that the educational actors in Burkina Faso and beyond, students, teachers, administrators, government officials and other partners in socioeconomic development, will find this work a valuable and useful reference tool.
-Tertius Zongo, Prime Minister of Burkina Faso.
Too little is known about Burkina Faso in the outside world and yet amazing things are happening in this small West African country, as Dr Ouedraogo shows in this book
I recommend this fascinating, informative and well researched book as a must for anyone interested in education and development, and especially for those interested in the improvement of female education.
-Keith Watson, Emeritus Professor of Comparative and International Education, University of Reading, UK, Former Vice-Chairman, Commonwealth Education Council
Philippe Ouedraogo is the Executive Director of AEAD (Association Evangelique, d'Appui au Developpement), Senior Pastor of Boulmiougou Assemblies of God Church in Ouagadougou, Vice President of AOG Church and President of the Alliance of Evangelical Schools and Universities of Burkina Faso (AESEB). He holds a PhD from OCMS. As practitioners, he and the board founded a national NGO for development AEAD in 1992 that created 10 schools and introduced with its partners the Speed School (SSA/Passerelle) Concept in Burkina Faso in October 2006, offering several types of education to thousands of people in Burkina Faso. These programmes are the highest standard at the national examination league tables with gender balance