August 5, 2010, Ouahigouya. The first trial runs of a literacy campaign designed for clients of our Microfinance Bank and for the parents of LMA students in Ouahigouya have been successfully completed. The national launch of an innovative and unique learning concept program known as Computer-Based Functional Literacy (CBFL) will begin at the end of the year.
A 50% literacy rate is considered the minimum level necessary for any society to attain sustainable development. As only 20% of the Burkinabe population can read and write, illiteracy remains a major obstacle to development in Burkina Faso.
An animated computer-based learning program, CBFL has proved to be an effective method to quickly increase literacy rates in developing countries: After 35 lessons participants are able to read newspapers and simple books in their native tongue. Since the program, developed by a Burkinabe linguist and CBFL experts in India, is entirely computer based, there is no need for trained teachers or a complex training infrastructure.
Upon the imminent completion of all the remaining trials runs, we will brief additional instructors about the program and select new students. Together with our Burkinabe partners we are certain that the CBFL program, which has already helped tens of thousands of adults in India and South Africa achieve literacy, will be another milestone in the fight against illiteracy, thereby laying the foundation for sustainable development.
