Burundi Schools



Figure 1.--Here is a end of the year prize giving ceremony at a Belgian school in Burundi during 1956. Notice the white gloves which we still see in Belgium and France during the 1950s for formal events. The children seem very pleased with their prizes.

Burundi is a small land-locked nation in East Africa. We have no information Burundi education before the arrival of the Europeans. There were native kingdoms so some kind of informal schooling was possible. We suspect, however, that there were no formal schools. The Germans colonized Burundi in the late-19th century, although considerable force was required causing widespread damage. Burundi became part of German East afeica. Even so, the Germans do not seem to have interfered greatly in local life. Belgium occuped the colony in World War I (1916). After the War it became a League of Nations Mandated and subsequently a United Nations Trusteeship. The Germans/Belgans found some schools. The general pattern was to set up schools for German/Belgan nationals, but to give little attentiion to the native children. We do not yet have details on native education. Missionaries also often played an important role. We do not yet have specufic details. Bekgium granted indeoebdence (1962). Burundi is a very poor country. The Belgiums did very little to create a modern educatiin system and the indepebdent new country had few resources to devote to education. Education is an important concern in modern Burunsi and the Ministry of Education like other African countries is attempting to create a universal public school system. Resources are, however, very limited.

Traditional African Kingdoms

Burundi is a land-locked natin in East Africa. We have no information Burundi education before the arrival of the Europeans. There were native kingdoms so sime kind of informal schooling was possible. We suspect, however, that there were no formal schools.

European Colonization

The Germans colonized Burundi (late-19th century). Considerable force was required as unlike neighboruing Rawanda, the local chiefs resisted the Germans. There was widespread damage. Burundi became part of German East afeica. Even so, the Germans do not seem to have interfered greatly in local life. Belgium occuped the colony in World War I (1916). After the War, Burundi became a League of Nations Mandated and subsequently a United Nations Trusteeship. The Germans/Belgans founded some schools for their nationals. Here we see a seen at a school for Belgian children in 1956 (figure 1). No attention was given to the native children. Missionaries played an important role in the education of native children. The only schools founded for the native children was the various missionsry groups active in the colony. This was true during both the German and Beklgn period. The missionry schools provided only primary-level instruction.

Independent Burunsi

Belgium granted indeoebdence (1962). Burundi is a very poor country. The Belgiums did very little to create a modern education system and the indepedent new country had few resources to devote to education. Education is an important concern in modern Burunsi and the Ministry of Education like other African countries is attempting to create a universal public school system. Resources are, however, very limited. The literacy rate of the country is vastly improved over the colonial era, but still very low by international standards--about 65 percent of the overall population. (We have seen lower estimates.) The impact of the education system can be seen in that the younger portion of the population has a higher literacy rate. Primary education is acailable free of chrge. School is compulsory for children aged 7 to 14 years, although enforcement was spotty. One study revealed that about 50 percent of the primary-age children were attending primary school and 9 percent were attending secondary school (1996). The languages of instruction in Burundi schools are Kisundi and French. There has been some slight improvement in recent years. The Government has improved funding for public education resulting in an improving teacher/pupil ratio.









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Created: 4:56 PM 12/12/2011
Last updated: 4:56 PM 12/12/2011