introduction

Since gaining independence in 1960, Burkina Faso has made progress in the field of education. However, due to colonial history, regime changes, economic backwardness, and social unrest, the education ecosystem has become imbalanced, facing problems such as low literacy rates, low enrollment rates, and high dropout rates. The government continues to adjust its literacy policies, but the illiteracy rate remains a barrier to development. The United Nations report shows that Burkina Faso has a low Human Development Index, short education years, and education deprivation contributes significantly to poverty. Foreign research focuses more on gender equality, primary and higher education, while domestic research is relatively scarce. This article will analyze the evolution, effectiveness, and issues of literacy education in Burkina Faso after independence, explore future trends, and promote cooperation between China and Burkina Faso.

1、 The Evolution of Literacy Education

After Burkina Faso gained independence, literacy education underwent four stages of evolution. During the period of government laissez faire (1960-1965), although education was considered important, literacy campaigns were mostly spontaneous and rural schools emerged, but the results were not ideal. The government's full deployment phase (late 1960s to early 1970s) witnessed a shift in the literacy model, with the government taking responsibility for reducing illiteracy and implementing the UNESCO Upper Volta Decade Plan, focusing on family education and women's technical education. In the stage of government civilian cooperation (mid-1970s to late 1980s), the government began to collaborate with civilian organizations to establish multiple literacy education institutions and carry out large-scale literacy activities, but also exposed issues of coordination and coherence. In the stage of multi-party collaboration (from the early 1990s to present), the government strengthened macroeconomic regulation, introduced a series of policy bills, clarified the division of responsibilities among different participating entities, and promoted the standardization and legalization of literacy education. The 1996 Education Guidance Act and the Ten Year Development Plan for Basic Education (2000-2009) provide a legal basis and development goals for literacy education. After 2015, the government of Cabore continued to promote literacy education. Faced with the new situation, it issued the "National Strategy for Education of Students in Safety Vulnerable Areas (2019-2024)" and the "Law on Ensuring Education Continuity in the Context of COVID-19", clarifying the path and methods for multiple stakeholders to carry out literacy actions. The change in Burkina Faso's literacy education strategy reflects the social transformation of the country over the past 60 years.

2、 Evolutionary characteristics

The literacy education in Burkina Faso has undergone four stages of evolution, with the government's role shifting from a commander to a leader, civil society institutions shifting from followers to participants, and the cooperation between the market, society, and government deepening, with clearer division of responsibilities. During the Kong Bolei government period, literacy education was legislated and a multi subject collaborative strategy was implemented, which had three characteristics: scientific management methods, overall planning and layout, and rich content and form. The scientific management approach is reflected in the transformation of governance institutions, capital investment, and institutional guarantees, such as the shift from a single government led approach to diverse subject participation, diversified capital investment, and diversified institutional guarantees. The overall planning and layout is reflected in incorporating literacy education into the entire education system, setting multiple goals, and achieving full coverage for all age groups. The enrichment of content forms is reflected in setting courses based on the characteristics of learners, adopting multilingual teaching, establishing different types of literacy institutions, and meeting the needs of different groups.

3、 The effectiveness and shortcomings of the literacy campaign

Burkina Faso's literacy education has achieved significant results in improving the national literacy rate, curriculum quality, employment structure, and other aspects. The literacy rates of adults, youth, and women have all significantly increased, and the gender equality index has also improved. The enrollment rate of formal education has increased at all stages of education, and the quality of the curriculum is reflected in the improvement of academic success rate and dropout rate. In addition, the improvement of employment structure also reflects the positive role of literacy education in economic development.

4、 Development Trends

After the military coup in Burkina Faso in 2022, the transitional government of Damba took multiple measures to restore literacy education. The government has issued the "Transitional Government Charter", formed a transitional government, strengthened counter-terrorism deployment, destroyed terrorist bases, unsealed blockades, and reopened schools. At the same time, the government is responding to the economic crisis through the 'Transitional Action Plan', reviewing the administrative management system, strengthening legal supervision, and alleviating corruption. Despite the challenges of international counter globalization, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the resistance of anti-terrorism cooperation in the Sahel region, and humanitarian disasters, Burkina Faso's literacy education has a bleak prospect, but it is expected to achieve the concept reshaping and focus shifting in the long run. Literacy education will strengthen functional literacy and gradually transition to the empowerment stage, focusing on marginalized and impoverished populations. Bilingual teaching and the development of information technology will also become important directions for future literacy education.

conclusion

After Burkina Faso gained independence, literacy education underwent four stages of evolution, including government laissez faire, full deployment, government civilian cooperation, and multi-party collaboration. Literacy education presents scientific, holistic, and enriched characteristics in management methods, planning layouts, and content forms, achieving results in improving literacy rates, enhancing curriculum quality, and improving employment structures. However, challenges still exist in areas such as politics, security, economy, legal system, and education. Although the transitional government of Damba has deployed, the military coup has led to the stagnation of literacy education. The action plan of the new government will be the key to the development of literacy education, and future education will carry new missions, possibly achieving a reshaping of ideas and a shift in focus.