Transforming education in Burundi

Burundi has made significant progress in increasing access to education. Enrollment in basic education is high, and preschool enrollment is growing.

However, persistent challenges remain with overall low learning levels and a high number of children repeating classes and dropping out of school. By the end of primary school, 72% of students lack minimum proficiency in reading and 40% in math, and there are significant rural-urban, public-private and gender disparities (PASEC 2019).

Burundi’s Partnership Compact marks the country’s commitment to deliver quality education to all children.

The government is working with GPE and other partners to improve the quality of learning by making education more equitable and inclusive. The reform focuses on teachers and aims to strengthen initial training and continuous professional development.

Efforts to improve the learning environment include ensuring school infrastructure complies with standards, opening a preschool classroom in every basic education school, expanding school feeding, and strengthening support to vulnerable children, including girls, children with disabilities and refugees.

Better management and use of resources, such as needs-based teacher recruitment and deployment, is expected to contribute to reducing inequalities in the education system.

Result story

Burundi: Keeping schools accessible for better learning

  • The socio-political crisis that Burundi went through has changed the landscape of the education sector and increased the challenges to ensure a quality education for all.
  • Since 2012, GPE has been supporting the country's Ministry of Education and development partners' work to improve access to quality education, even during crisis times, through several grants.
  • GPE's contributions are more than financial, as its partnership approach promotes collaboration and coordination between the different implementing partners, placing the country on the path to transforming its education system.

Key data

26%

out-of-school rate for children of lower-secondary school age

53%

of children start learning one year before entering primary school

100%

of primary teachers have the minimum required qualifications

18%

of government expenditure on education

Grants

(data as of November 26, 2024)

 
  • Type: Multiplier

    Years: 2024 - 2029

    Allocation: US$30,000,000

    Utilization: 0

    Grant agent: WB

  • Type: Program development

    Years: 2024 - 2025

    Allocation: US$191,646

    Utilization: 0

    Grant agent: UNICEF

  • Type: Program development

    Years: 2024 - 2025

    Allocation: US$139,912

    Utilization: 0

    Grant agent: UNESCO

  • Type: System capacity

    Years: 2022 - 2025

    Allocation: US$677,927

    Utilization: US$210,768

    Grant agent: UNICEF

  • Type: Program implementation

    Years: 2019 - 2026

    Allocation: US$46,900,000

    Utilization: US$25,309,528

    Grant agent: AFD

Civil society engagement

As part of its investment in civil society advocacy and social accountability efforts, GPE’s Education Out Loud fund is supporting the Coalition for Education for All (BAFASHEBIGE) for the 2024-2026 period. This builds on previous support from the Civil Society Education Fund (CSEF).

Learn more

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