Burkina Faso: Vocational training, a new priority for qualified and sovereign youth
In response to the limitations of an overly theoretical education system, Burkina Faso has made technical and vocational training a key pillar of its renewal. President Captain Ibrahim Traoré has expressed his commitment to reforming the system so young people can learn trades and quickly enter the workforce. “The current system is leading us to a dead end. We must change course and offer credible alternatives to our youth,” emphasized Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo.
This vision took shape in July 2023 with the creation of Burkina Suudu Bawdè (BSB), or “House of Skills of Burkina,” a public institution that unites 32 vocational training centers across the country. These centers offer hands-on training in trades like carpentry, plumbing, mechanics, electricity, sewing, and masonry.
A prime example is the regional vocational training center in Bobo-Dioulasso, reopened in November 2025 after renovations. Its capacity grew from 500 to 850 learners, and programs expanded from 7 to 14 professions. Minister of Secondary Education, Vocational and Technical Training, Aboubacar Savadogo, noted these developments align with “the vision of the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.”
The goal is to prepare young people for immediate employment. Through the “Useful Holidays” program, BSB gives students from sixth to final year of high school the chance to discover professional trades during school breaks. Following its first run in 2025, which trained 246 students, the 2026 edition grew to 13 cities, offering 15 courses and attracting over 1,300 registrations. “We are in the era of the People’s Progressive Revolution (RPP), focused entirely on the youth,” declared Minister Moumouni Zoungrana.
Partnerships are also boosting this effort. The European Union backs the BenkadiBaara project, aimed at helping 45,000 young people find opportunities in green jobs by 202…
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