Buhumuza : the return of repatriates exposes the unpreparedness of authorities in schools

SOS Médias Burundi

Cankuzo, August 26, 2026 — The massive influx of Burundian pupils repatriated from Tanzania risks exacerbating the shortage of classrooms and desks in Buhumuza province, eastern Burundi, as the 2026-2027 school year approaches, scheduled to begin on September 7. The districts of Gisagara and Butihinda are particularly affected, according to the provincial administration.

The children from the repatriated families are arriving primarily from the Nduta and Nyarugusu camps in Tanzania. These two camps were closed following a decision made by the Tanzanian authorities in collaboration with the Burundian government. The two countries discussed, in particular, the improved security situation and the return to peace in Burundi, despite persistent concerns about the reintegration conditions of returnees.

Buhumuza is hosting the majority of the returnees, according to information gathered by SOS Médias Burundi.

“These children have a right to education, but weg were not sufficiently prepared for their arrival,” acknowledged Denise Ndaruhekere, governor of Buhumuza.

She explained that this influx of pupils will increase the pressure on already inadequate school infrastructure. During the past school year, the province had a shortage of more than 48,000 desks.

“No child will sit on the floor.”

Despite this situation, the governor assured that no pupil will be forced to sit on the floor during the upcoming school year.

“No child will sit on the ground,” assures Denise Ndaruhekere, referring to the government program for manufacturing school benches currently underway in the province.

But the arrival of new pupils risks further complicating the situation in schools, which are already facing a shortage of classrooms and furniture.

The districts of Gisagara and Butihinda, which are hosting a significant number of repatriated families, are among the areas where this pressure is expected to be particularly acute.

A delayed bench manufacturing program

The government’s program to manufacture school desks is, however, behind schedule, and the planned completion date has already passed.

According to Denise Ndaruhekere, this delay is mainly due to a lack of electricity and fuel needed to operate the equipment used in their manufacture.

She assures, however, that the work will be completed before the start of the 2026-2027 school year.

The governor also calls on those responsible for manufacturing the school desks to strictly adhere to the model established by the authorities. Desks that do not conform will have to be adapted to meet the required standards.

A shortage that risks worsening

With the arrival of new repatriated pupils, the shortage of desks and benches could worsen in Buhumuza’s schools.

A shortage that risks worsening

With the arrival of newly repatriated pupils, the shortage of desks and benches could worsen in Buhumuza’s schools.

However, the problem isn’t just about furniture. The arrival of thousands of additional children also raises the question of the schools’ capacity to absorb these new pupils, given that some facilities are already overcrowded.

The governor is asking the government to maintain its support for the province in order to definitively resolve the shortage and provide pupils with adequate learning conditions.

The challenge of integrating repatriated children

For children who have lived for several years in Tanzania, returning to Burundi also means adapting to a new school environment.

Some were born in the camps or spent a large part of their childhood there. Their integration into the Burundian education system therefore presents an additional challenge for schools and families.

The authorities are thus faced with a dual challenge : welcoming these children into schools while ensuring that their arrival does not further worsen the learning conditions of pupils already enrolled.

The return of refugees from Tanzania comes as Burundian authorities seek to ensure their reintegration into their communities of origin. In Buhumuza province, where many of the returning families have settled, education has emerged as one of the main challenges of this reintegration.

With the start of the school year scheduled for September 7, provincial authorities will therefore need to accelerate the announced renovations so that the new pupils can be welcomed in the most dignified conditions possible.