Taiwan’s “A Lamp Lighting up Africa” project has proved to be very successful in helping Burkina Faso students study at night with light-emitting diode lamps, ROC President Ma Ying-jeou said April 10 during a visit to Bonogo Elementary School and Kienfangue Elementary School in the West African country’s capital Ouagadougou.
“Studying under the street lamps is a part of many local students’ lives, since many households in this nation of 16 million lack nighttime illumination,” Ma said. “With the LED light project, students can now study at home at night and recharge the batteries through solar panels installed at the school. This is the best way to prompt them to go to school.”
A teacher with Bonogo Elementary School echoed Ma’s remarks and said that since acquiring the LED lights, more students have been coming to classes and their grades have significantly improved.
Ma said Taiwan will expand the scope of the scheme and provide more LED lamps to help improve the students’ learning environment.
Since the project was initiated in 2009 by Tsao Hsing-chien, former director of the Central Training Center under the Council of Labor Affairs’ Bureau of Employment and Vocational Training, 7,000 LED lamps have been sent to schools in Burkina Faso. Batteries of the LED lamps can last for 4.5 hours after being charged for 2 hours. (HZW)
Write to Grace Kuo at morningk@mail.gio.gov.tw