In the digital age, it is quite normal to bring the learning framework of future decision-makers, students, up to date. Hence this allocation of computer equipment and furniture to university libraries by the Ministry in charge of Higher Education, through the Higher Education Support Project (PAES) financed by the World Bank (WB). It was this Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Ouagadougou.
It is the central library of the University Prof. Joseph Ki-Zerbo (UJKZ) which hosted this ceremony of handing over of materials. With a total cost of 491,912,500 CFA francs, this donation, financed by the World Bank (WB) through the Higher Education Support Project (PAES), is made up of computer equipment with an estimated value of 333,232,000 F CFA (411 desktops, 411 inverters, 56 laptops, 38 scanners, 46 printers, a large capacity copier, IT equipment for visually impaired students) and office furniture from a cost of 158,680,500 F CFA.
According to the Director of the central library of the University Pr Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Fatoumata Maïga / Dialllo, it is within the framework of its missions that the PAES has selected three components for the improvement of the functioning of the libraries of universities and centers of research. This concerns the acquisition of computer equipment and furniture; the acquisition of documentary resources and the subscription of online resources; and capacity building for staff in charge of managing central libraries and training and research units (UFR), secondary schools and institutes. This last component materialized with the training of 122 library officers.
And it is the structures of these trained agents who receive this donation. Hence the joy of the beneficiary. “This joy will be even greater, because in the days to come we will receive nearly 2,000 titles of work in triplicate, plus the digital version,” she underlined. While thanking the PAES and the World Bank, the Director did not fail to mention the dilapidated state of the building which houses the university library. For her, this gift of great value contrasts with their work environment which needs rehabilitation.
This framework also served as a venue for Maimouna Mbow Fam, Resident Representative of the World Bank in Burkina Faso, to deliver checks (total of CFAF 1.250 billion) to four public universities as part of performance contracts signed between her institution and these institutions. universities. These are the Norbert Zongo University in Koudougou (250 million CFA francs), the Nazi Boni University of Bobo-Dioulasso (250 million CFA francs), the Thomas Sankara University (250 million CFA francs) and the ‘University Pr Joseph Ki-Zerbo (500 million CFA francs).
With a very innovative mechanism, with results-based disbursements, the Higher Education Support Project (PAES), in the opinion of Maimouna Mbow Fam, aims in part to provide countries with virtual universities in the digital age. This project therefore aims to support higher education and research institutions to be more efficient and more sustainable in terms of management. This, by having more financial income and by being turned towards the principles of good governance. “The 2019 accounts of these universities were drawn up and reviewed by the Court of Auditors. It is already a good mechanism which shows that we are resolutely turned towards good governance and accountability. Too,
For the president of this ceremony, Pr Alkassoum Maïga, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, in view of the actions taken and the activities carried out, the PAES is part of what are called projects structuring. “We have started to identify the main problems linked to the LMD (License-Master-Doctorate) system. All the time, teachers and students alike have always posed the problem of what infrastructural device we need to get the LMD up to speed. With this project, we have already launched “the one student, one computer operation” with the support of the World Bank, ”he suggested. Regarding performance contracts,
He did not fail to congratulate the Bretton Woods institution for having equipped the various libraries with nearly 500 million CFA francs. According to Prof. Maïga, this equipment concerns university libraries, but also the libraries of the various institutes and of the National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (CNRST). For the minister, these computer tools will improve the service provided to students and teachers in libraries.
And the imminent arrival of 2,000 titles of works in triplicate with digital versions is a godsend. This will make it easier to consult, loan documents, and access the platform to retrieve digital files. He took the opportunity to seek the support of the World Bank to accelerate the implementation of the virtual university.
Marcus Kouaman
Latribunedufaso.net
