 Early childhood development families   2024-2026

The context

Early childhood education is still in its infancy in Burkina Faso, where only 6 children out of 100 will be attending nursery school by 2021.

The government recently validated its National Strategy for the Accelerated Development of Preschool Education (SNDAEP 2021-2025) to improve access, with the construction of schools, but also quality, by focusing on training and equipment. 

Planète Enfants & Développement has been supporting the development of preschool education in Burkina Faso since 2010. The association, which contributed to the creation of 13 preschoolsworks also on the training of teachers and the harmonization of their practices, as well as on the quality of education.

The project

The first phase of the project (2019–2023) helped improve the quality of early childhood education in Burkina Faso by leveraging two complementary approaches. First, an ambitious cascade training program equipped key early childhood stakeholders (INFTS teachers, regional trainers, educators, and 132 public preschool principals) while providing them with methodological guides and teaching resources to standardize practices nationwide. Second, the 2018 launch of the pioneering digital platform «Preschool Toolkit» (www.bop.fr) has created a unique collaborative space that provides professionals with educational resources, guidance on distance learning, and content on child development. Building on its success in Burkina Faso, this model for a platform for knowledge sharing and capacity building is set to be replicated in Cambodia and Nepal.

The second phase of the project (2024–2026) pursues its objective through several components.

Support from Education Inspectors

The quality of preschool education depends heavily on the consistency of monitoring by Early Childhood Education Inspectors (IEPE).
We support them in harmonizing educational support methods, improving monitoring tools, and finalizing a national memorandum that summarizes solutions to challenges encountered in the field.

Facilitating the Preschool Toolkit (BOP)

Launched in October 2018, the website continues to grow. This Preschool Toolkit (BOP), the first digital platform dedicated to preschool professionals, offers them: educational worksheets developed during the project in partnership with a scientific committee, including activity sheets organized by category (early learning, creativity, self-expression, motor skills, or social skills), a An Overview of the Benefits of Preschool Education, which is essential for enabling children to develop motor, sensory, and cognitive skills, as well as emotional and social skills, and Tips for preparing for various early childhood education certification exams and provide individualized distance learning.

Ultimately, the BOP represents a new space for discussion, information, and news specific to Burkinabé preschool education.   In 2025, the BOP digital platform was expanded to include 115 new lesson plans covering all levels from the youngest to the oldest kindergarten classes. These lesson plans offer a variety of practical activities.

Experiencing Education and Development Through Sports

In 2024, we piloted sports sessions centered on «the oval ball» at two preschools, following a partnership established with the Terres en Mêlées association. This experience led to the creation of 10 «Education and Development through Sports» (EDS) fact sheets, which have been incorporated into the BOP. 

A training session on gender-sensitive teaching

In 2024, we coordinated a national study to identify gender stereotypes perpetuated in educational practices and materials
in preschool, which led to an action plan to train educational staff on gender issues and to review the activity workbooks used in the classroom.
In 2025, a panel of experts from the Directorates General of Education and the INFPE developed a new training module on gender-sensitive pedagogy.

Raising Awareness of the Risks of Excessive Screen Time

Aware of the ubiquity of digital technology, we have made raising awareness about the risks of early overexposure to screens a top priority. In 2025, we organized a training session in two school districts. Participants were equipped with knowledge of public health recommendations, fun alternatives to screen time, and, above all, facilitation techniques to directly raise awareness among parents. This initiative ensures a shared approach to monitoring between school and home.