News & Stories

New Alliance School Opens in Burkina Faso

September 29, 2008

The new Maranatha Elementary School began classes this week in , Burkina Faso’s second largest city, with Mr. Bertin Boro as the first teacher at the school. “It is a door that has opened up to us,” said Alliance missionary Esther Schaeffer, who was instrumental in the school’s establishment. The Christian elementary school is a much-needed addition to Maranatha High School, where the enrollment is filled to capacity.  
 
Burkina Faso has a very low literacy rate; approximately 15 percent of the population has the ability to read. “Education is not free, and the people are poor,” Schaeffer said. “The student/teacher ratio is about 100 or more students to one teacher. And less than 5 percent of Burkinabé people know Christ as Lord.”  
 
The high school’s reputation is well known, drawing many national and expatriate parents to enroll their children. “With 60 percent of the students being unchurched, well over 100 students come to Christ each year,” said Schaeffer, who has seen her prayers answered with the opening of the elementary school. “Jesus tells us to go and make disciples. One way to do that is through Christian schools.”