Gitega : notebooks, uniforms, bags… back to school becomes a luxury

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, August 24, 2026 — As the start of the school year approaches, parents in Gitega, the political capital of Burundi, are facing a significant increase in the prices of school supplies and uniforms. This situation is causing considerable concern, especially as families also have to prepare for the A planting season.

Compared to last year, several school supplies have seen price increases. A 100-page notebook has gone from 3,000 to 3,500 Burundian francs, a 60-page notebook from 2,000 to 2,500 francs, while a 48-page notebook now costs 1,500 francs, up from 1,000 francs. Meanwhile, 36- and 24-page notebooks are not available in sufficient quantities on the market.

Other school supplies have also seen price increases. The price of a notebook has risen from 15,000 to 20,000 Burundian francs, a math set from 3,000 to 3,500 francs, and a notebook cover now costs 1,500 francs, up from 1,000 francs last year.

Uniforms also affected

School uniforms have also seen price increases.

For children in grades 1 and 2, the price of a uniform has increased from 15,000 to 20,000 Burundian francs. For those in grades 3 and 4, it has increased from 20,000 to 25,000 francs.

For pupils in grades 4 through 6, the uniform now costs 30,000 francs, up from 25,000 francs.

For primary school children, the cost of school uniforms has increased from 30,000 to 35,000 Burundian francs. For secondary school pupils, the cost is now 40,000 francs, compared to 35,000 francs the previous year.

School bags have also seen a price increase. A bag for a primary school child now costs 40,000 francs, up from 35,000 francs. For secondary school pupils, the price has risen from 40,000 to 50,000 Burundian francs.

Parents caught between the start of the school year and the planting season

Faced with this widespread increase, some parents say they are struggling to find the necessary funds to send their children to school. The start of the school year coincides with a time when families must also mobilize resources for preparations for the upcoming agricultural season (Season A).

When interviewed at the central market in Gitega, some traders attributed this price surge to the devaluation of the Burundian currency. Others cited the recurring fuel shortages, which, according to them, contribute to increased costs for supplying and transporting goods.

For parents, this price increase represents an additional burden as the start of the school year approaches, in an already difficult economic context.

The situation in Gitega illustrates the difficulties faced by many Burundian families, caught between the expenses related to the start of the school year and those necessary for preparing for the upcoming agricultural season (Season A).