Kirundi-Kiswahili Department for Professional Teachers

The University of Burundi is setting up a new branch of Kirundi-Kiswahili Department to improve professional teaching.-By Diane Uwimana

The Department will be implemented at the Applied Teaching Institute (IPA) ©Iwacu

“About 120 students are already enrolled in the new Department for the academic- year 2013-2014,” notes Siméon Ndoricimpa, in Charge of Communication at the University of Burundi. He indicates that the new Department comes to complete the new national program of Fundamental School implemented since this year. “We have found out that we will need professional teachers by the end of this new program,” adds Ndoricimpa. It is worth reminding that four languages (French, English, Kiswahili and Kirundi) are taught in primary school as well as in Fundamental School (which begins from the 7th form). “Faculties and Institutes at the University of Burundi do not match with the new Fundamental School system. Then, the designers of the program noticed that creating a Department of Kirundi-Kiswahili was a must to comply with the need of our country,” he points out.
According to him, teachers of Fundamental School did not learn Kiswahili at all; so, much emphasis should be given to that language. At the University of Burundi, there is no longer a combination of Departments such as English-Kirundi, French-Kirundi, Biology- Chemistry….. “Today, we have only separate departments such as English, Biology, and French…” he highlights.

During the conception of the new Department with its syllabuses, Ndoricimpa notices that the University authorities underline that it is necessary to insert Kiswahili at the National and Public University. Furthermore, Burundi adhered to EAC, citizens must benefit from all advantages offered by the community. “As it is mentioned in the Treaty establishing the EAC, the free movement of goods, persons, labour and services should be a great opportunity to all Burundians.”
According to him, the University of Burundi expects to have many professional teachers. As the students have already enrolled in the new department, Ndoricimpa calls upon students to attend classes very seriously in order to respond to the need of the country.
It is worth mentioning that the University of Burundi in its 5O’s, has a new organization: it has into eight faculties and three institutes. The latter are dispatched in five campuses located in two towns, four in Bujumbura City Council and one in Gitega Province.