The continuum of bilingual education in Burkina Faso: an educational innovation aimed at improving the quality of basic education for all

This article describes a real-life project currently being conducted in Burkina Faso—the bilingual education continuum—and explains its original and innovative aspects with respect to the teaching methods used and the development and process by which it is implemented in the schools. The article focuses on five main points: the status of bilingual education; the minimum factors needed for its success; the implications concerning the role of the teachers; the obstacles encountered; and strategies used to introduce bilingual education, while overcoming various obstacles.