• Burkina Faso to launch national final exams for private universities by 2026-2027

• Reform aims to raise academic standards and ensure degree quality across sectors

• Measures include stricter faculty rules, teaching hospitals for private medical schools

Burkina Faso will introduce a national final examination for all students enrolled in private universities starting in the 2026-2027 academic year, the government said on Thursday. The measure, presented to proprietors of private higher education institutions (IPES), is part of a new regulatory framework aimed at improving the quality of higher education.

Under the reform, the state will administer the final exams for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs, according to state broadcaster RTB, citing the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI). Higher Education Minister Adjima Thiombiano said the goal is to “ensure fairness between public and private institutions and guarantee competitive, high-quality degrees.”

MESRI says the changes address weaknesses in the existing system and form part of a broader effort to strengthen standards in private higher education. Other measures include requiring private medical universities to operate a teaching hospital and obliging private institutions to gradually hire more qualified, full-time faculty.

The reform comes amid rapid growth in Burkina Faso’s higher education sector, where regulation and quality assurance have become increasingly important. According to the 2022/23 Higher Education Dashboard, total enrollment reached 220,128 students, with almost 20% in private institutions. MESRI data shows that of the 27,183 graduates in 2022, nearly 30% came from private universities, highlighting the sector’s expanding role and the need for consistent oversight.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou