Makamba : glaring lack of chalks and books for teachers and students

Since the start of the school year, almost a month ago, teachers in the province of Makamba (southern Burundi) say they have not been provided with books and chalks. The most affected are the 5th grade classes that do not have books for teachers, let alone for pupils.

Educators are asking the hierarchy to find a solution as soon as possible.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Teachers who spoke to SOS Médias Burundi speak of an unacceptable situation.

“Only one pupil’s book and another that serves as a teacher’s guide have been given per school network, meaning that 3 or more schools share only two books,” laments a teacher met in the town center of Makamba. He believes that the program will not be completed if the school year starts with so many difficulties.

Contacted school principals say that they have not had any information concerning the reason for this lack of books.

The lack of chalks

Since the beginning of the school year – September 16, no school has yet received chalks.

According to local school officials, each school year was conditioned by the distribution of chalks by the Ministry of Education to the provincial directorates which distributed them in turn to district education directorates to reach schools in the first week, in the past.

These directors deplore that until now no box of chalks has been given, which hinders activities in all schools especially primary schools where notes must be written on the blackboard.

They ask the Ministry in charge of education to provide necessary school materials for the smooth running of activities.

A spokesperson for the supervisory ministry was not available to answer our questions.

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Pupils in a classroom in Burundi (SOS Médias Burundi)