Burkina Faso has introduced a brand-new requirement for all trainees seeking to pursue college abroad to obtain prior authorisation from the Ministry of Higher Education.
The decree, adopted by the Council of Ministers, applies to all Burkinabè students meaning to begin research studies overseas, despite whether they are funded through federal government scholarships, personal sponsorship or their own financial resources.
The government stated the measure would enhance oversight of overseas training, align it with national advancement concerns and much better prepare graduates for integration into the domestic labour market.
Under the regards to this decree, any Burkinabè student who wants to start research studies abroad, whether getting a scholarship or utilizing their own funds, is needed to acquire prior authorisation from the ministry in charge of higher education
Ministry of Higher Education
“Under the regards to this decree, any Burkinabè student who wants to start research studies abroad, whether getting a scholarship or utilizing their own funds, is needed to obtain previous authorisation from the ministry in charge of college,” the federal government stated after the Council of Ministers conference.
Higher education minister Adjima Thiombiano said the policy would allow “the state to keep an eye on training content in accordance with the current vision of the government, to prevent social cases after studies abroad and to prepare the expert combination of these trainees.”
The decree amends Burkina Faso’s 2021 higher education scholarship structure by requiring self-funded students, in addition to scholarship receivers, to get prior authorisation.
France remains one of Burkina Faso’s leading research study locations, with around 2,500 Burkinabè students enrolled in French higher education institutions in 2022, according to Campus France. The decree also follows France’s suspension of visa issuance in Burkina Faso, alongside Mali and Niger, in 2023 amidst diplomatic stress.
Burkina Faso’s move comes as governments in some student-sending countries are reassessing how outbound trainee mobility is handled. Earlier this year, Nepal proposed revamping its No Objection Certificate (NOC) framework by linking foreign currency approvals to concern disciplines, alongside wider reforms focused on strengthening oversight of outgoing trainee movement.
The decree forms part of a series of education reforms introduced since Burkina Faso’s military-led transitional federal government took power in 2022.
Last year, authorities introduced a compulsory month-long “patriotic immersion” program for trainees getting in public universities after finishing the baccalaureate examination. The very first rollout involved around 60,000 high school graduates, with participation ending up being a requirement for university enrolment.
The government said the initiative was designed to reinforce civic values and prepare young people for nationwide service and the defence of the nation amid the country’s ongoing security crisis.
More just recently, authorities suspended the General Union of Burkina Students (UGEB), one of the nation’s largest trainee organisations, accusing it of “glorifying terrorism” after it criticised the federal government’s handling of the security situation. Rights organisations criticised the suspension, arguing that it showed a broader narrowing of civic area.
Authorities have yet to discuss how the new approval system will run, including the criteria for assessing applications, when it will take effect or whether unsuccessful candidates will have a right to appeal.