Ibrahim Traoré calls for scientific education and economic autonomy in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso President Ibrahim Traoré has called for a major shift in the nation's educational and social priorities. During the 2026 School Excellence Day, Traoré urged the youth to prioritize scientific and technological knowledge over literary studies to ensure economic sovereignty and reduce external dependency. He noted a significant imbalance in recent baccalaureate results, where over 50% of graduates were from literary tracks, while scientific and industrial graduates remained minimal.

Traoré also addressed the role of religion, warning against its instrumentalization for political domination and urging citizens to develop critical thinking rather than relying solely on divine intervention for societal progress.

In a separate initiative, the President visited the closing ceremony for the 4th cohort of the Agency for Support to Widows, Orphans, and War Victims (ASVOVIG). Approximately 470 participants, including war victims and their families, completed vocational training in fields such as mechanics, tailoring, agriculture, and saponification. Traoré emphasized that economic resilience and local production are essential to the nation's recovery and dignity.