OUAGADOUGOU, 3 Oct 2006 (IRIN) - Sadio Toure didn’t have a typical summer vacation. Even though the 18-year-old was on her school break, she delighted in finding herself in a classroom setting, learning to use a computer and attempting science experiments in a laboratory for the first time.

“We didn’t have any [laboratory] practice sessions in our school,” said Toure.

She was among 40 girls selected from across the country to participate in the “Excellence Camp”, a two-week summer programme aimed at encouraging girls to pursue male-dominated science curriculums. Participants were chosen for their outstanding performance in math and science courses.

Boys outnumber girls in school enrollment in Burkina Faso and only nine percent of girls make it to high school. The United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF) says only 32 percent of Burkina Faso’s children are enrolled in primary school.

Identifying obstacles

The camp was organised by the Scientific Women of Faso for the Promotion of Scientific and Technological Education of Women (FESCIFA/PRESCITEF).

“We know that education is key to development and that science is the engine that leads to this development. If we want this engine to ignite, we need to include women and this starts with girls’ education in the sciences,” said Blanche Ouedraogo, the group’s president.

A study done by the organisation in 2001 noted several reasons why girls might shun science curriculums. The study said girls tend to be more reserved in class, fearing they will be jeered if they give a wrong answer; that male teachers fail to encourage girls to join in class discussions; and that girls appear reluctant to actively participate in conducting in science experiments.

“Globally, the country has a deficit in the [scientific] domain but the pattern is even gloomier for women, so it is imperative that solutions are found,” said Robert Foro, technical adviser to the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Education.

“In classrooms girls are smart but they don’t succeed because they lack self-confidence,” he said.

Getting girls involved

Ouedraogo says that the best way to get girls involved is to provide them with a positive image of sciences and boost their confidence. After the study, Ouedraogo’s group launched free science tutorials for girls throughout the country and created the camp.

At the camp, activities were organised to help demystify science. For instance, girls were shown how quartz can be used to cook cakes, and were given the opportunity to talk with female entrepreneurs. They were also taught about reproductive health, gender and development.

“Psychologically, the camp helped us overcome some of the gender problems we face in classes because the peer educators were women and it is motivating to see them,” said Nadia Kinda, 18, who attends the Lycee Nelson Mandela in Ouagadougou and went to the camp. “It makes us want to persevere to become like them,”

Kinda intends to continue her studies in the sciences after she graduates from high school and hopes to become a doctor, despite discouragement from friends and relatives who told her that the sciences are reserved for men.

“I realised that success in science is not gender-related. We young girls can take up the challenge if only we feel confident,” said Kinda, who hopes to become a model for other girls in the country.

Ouedraogo plans to offer the camp yearly, but hopes to receive funding to organise regional camps to reach more girls in the country.