• Plan targets English teachers for Burkina Faso and French teachers for Ghana

• Talks focus on boosting language skills and regional education ties

• Both countries face shortages in qualified language teachers

Burkina Faso and Ghana are discussing a teacher mobility program aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in education. During a courtesy visit to Ghana’s Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, on January 14, Burkina Faso’s ambassador to Ghana, David Kabré, raised the proposal as part of broader efforts to deepen educational ties between the two countries.

The discussions focused on deploying Ghanaian English teachers to Burkina Faso, while Burkinabe French teachers would be sent to Ghana. The initiative is designed to enhance regional cooperation and build human capital. Ambassador Kabré said the program would help strengthen English teaching in Burkina Faso, provide Burkinabe teachers with training opportunities in Ghana, and reinforce educational and cultural links between the two neighbors.

In response, the Ghanaian education minister said the proposals had been well received and announced plans to launch a formal teacher exchange program. Under the proposed arrangement, Ghanaian teachers would support English language instruction in Burkina Faso, while Burkinabe teachers would contribute to strengthening French teaching in Ghana.

For Burkina Faso, expanding English education is seen as a key lever for greater access to international markets and integration into the global economy. In September 2025, the government announced the rollout of English teaching across all primary school grades, following a pilot phase in 824 schools. The Ministry of National Education, Literacy, and Promotion of National Languages has acknowledged, however, a shortage of trained teachers and challenges related to pedagogical adaptation.

In Ghana, French language learning remains a strategic issue. Although French is taught in schools, only about 3% of the population speaks the language, according to official data. In April 2025, Ghana reaffirmed its commitment to the Francophonie by taking part in the Francophonie Walk, an initiative aimed at promoting French as an educational and economic asset. According to Mildred Frimpong, chief executive officer of Ghonline, a French language promotion group, strengthening French learning in Ghana would improve young people’s career prospects in the largely francophone West African sub-region.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou