For several years now, Burkina Faso's Ministry of Education and Promotion of National Languages has been working to make culture an integral part of young people's education. With this in mind, the Festival des Arts et de la Culture pour l'Education (FACE), organised by the Direction des Activités Sportives, Culturelles et des Loisirs, is a flagship event. The festival aims to show just how fundamental a role the arts can play in the personal and cultural development of young people.
The initiative has been supported since 2005 by the Cartel Federation's Théâtre Éclair company, which runs an activity called ‘Classe d'Arts’. Through this programme, young people have access to a platform where their creativity can flourish while enhancing their personal culture. This approach encourages an education that values the artistic and cultural dimensions, thereby enriching students' everyday school lives.
One of the critical aspects of this approach is training teachers and school supervisors in artistic education. Activities include :
- Taking ownership of the playing area teachers learn to use space creatively in their activities with children.
- Developing observation, concentration and sensations :Targeted exercises help children to refine their attention and better perceive their emotions.
- Initiation to directing : teachers are trained in the basics of directing so that they can supervise school shows.
Thanks to this training, ten teachers can create and lead arts groups in their schools, transforming the educational offer with regular cultural activities.
