Education in Burkina Faso

As of 2008, despite efforts to improve education, the country had the lowest adult literacy rate in the world (25.3%).

The subjects taught include Production, where children may learn to plant maize and trees or keep chickens, on school land.

The first private higher education institution was established in 1992 and the Université Libre de Ouagadougou[6] began operations in 2000.

[7] The University of Ouagadougou closed its doors for two months in 2008, following student protests about working conditions and non-payment of their grants.

[8] One outcome was the creation of University of Ouagadougou II[9] 20km away at Saaba, to relieve pressure on overcrowded facilities.

There are also online classes through the Institut de Formation Ouverte à Distance (IFOAD).

[11] None of the country's universities are ranked in higher education listings like the Time Higher World Universities, probably because the language of instruction is French, lecturers do not have time for much research, there is reliance on international aid to support some aspects of public education, and class sizes at the main public university are large.