Fundamental school is still challenged

Even though the school year 2013-2014 will start on September 15th, there are still many challenges. The second year students of fundamental school don’t have classrooms; there is a lack of basic teaching material, classroom supplies and teachers.–By Lorraine Josiane Manishatse

Fundamental Schools of Ngagara 4 ©Iwacu

In many communes of Burundi, the fundamental schools are facing serious challenges with the school year 2013-2014 will start. Last year, the Burundi Government made an effort in constructing classrooms reserved for the fundamental school, which was newly implemented. In each school, two classrooms for 1st Year fundamental students were built. But the majority of them were incomplete. It is unclear where pupils from the second year will study. Adele Bareha, the headmaster of Gikungu Primary School indicates that the fundamental school encounters many problems. “We have only three classrooms, two of them were occupied by pupils of 1st year. I don’t know if the remaining one is big enough for the second year students,” she comments.

“Last year, we used the classrooms without windows. During the rainy season, the students had trouble following the courses. Their rooms have not been cemented, which hinders pupils because there is dust in their classrooms. The lack of equipment is another handicap”, Bareha regrets. The same case is observed at Ngagara4, Primary School. There are seven classrooms for the fundamental schools, but none of them have windows nor a cement floor.

Eularie Nibizi, the Chairwoman of STEB Teachers’ Union, wonders if the Burundi Government forgot to plan for a budget to prepare for the new school year. “The first concern is the availability of the second year classrooms, and classrooms equipment”, she states.
The second problem arises from the lack of basic teaching materials. “Last year, courses that were newly implemented in the fundamental school like art and entrepreneurship have not been taught. Teachers didn’t have books to use. Reports have shown that in a majority of communes, those two courses were not given.”
Nibizi calls upon the Burundi Government to take into consideration all problems that handicap the education system.
The Ministry of Education was not available to comment.