CONTEXT
The Threshold program, financed in the amount of $12,9 million Dollars by the United States Government in March, 2006 allowed the building of 132 school complexes in 10 provinces of Burkina that have the lowest school enrollment and retention of girls, notably Banwa, Soum, Oudalan, Séno, Yagha, Gnagna, Komondjari, Tapoa, Sanmatenga and Namentenga. These school complexes consisting of a bloc of 3 classrooms, 3 accommodations for teachers, a borehole and latrines separated for girls and boys were handed over to the Government of Burkina Faso on October 30th, 2008.
In March 2009, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) granted 1.6 Million US Dollars to Plan Burkina Faso via USAID to manage the transition between the first phase of the Program known as BRIGHT I and the second phase referred to as BRIGHT II aimed at completing the schools to a six grade cycle. The transitional phase was approved for a period of 11 months, beginning in February 2009 and ending in December, 2009.
On May 14th, 2009, USAID put launch an international call for bid for the implementation of BRIGHT II. In the meantime, transitional phase known as BRIGHT II Phase 1 permits to preserve the gains of BRIGHT I, to find interim solutions for the accommodation of the new teachers, as well as temporary classrooms for the 4th grade classes. The transitional phase also provides an opportunity to continue informing communities of the phased approach and to maintain a high interest for the project.
ACHIEVEMENTS
In the course of this semester, 234. 700.800 CFA were spent to:
remodel a hall in each of the 76 BRIGHT schools that have a 4th grade class
buy and deliver 117 tons of rice, 2 months of Take Home Rations for the eligible girls
buy and deliver 10 tons of rice and cooking oil for 10 bisongos of Tapoa and Banwa provinces
buy and deliver 30 tons of rice and oil for the school canteens in 13 BRIGHT schools of the Banwa province.
Organize debates and discussions with communities in six of the ten project provinces.
Organize the training of 40 trainers in mentoring techniques.
MAJOR DIFFICULTIES
The tents provided by MEBA to shelter the 76 grade 4 classes in 2008-2009 are not appropriate for school use, hence the need for a readjustment in the planning for the hall remodeling.
The halls remodeled by Plan Burkina and CRS remain vulnerable if the communities do not look after them during the school holiday period.
152 halls were approved in the transition budget, while the need for temporary classrooms at the start of the school year 2009-2010 is evaluated at 184 classes.
By Makasa KABONGO, BRIGHT’s Chief Of Party
