Kirundo: more than 900 repatriated schoolchildren have dropped out of school

The figures were unveiled last week during a visit by the Burundian Prime Minister to the province of Kirundo (Northern Burundi). Gervais Ndirakobuca ordered school officials in the province to “give a warm welcome to repatriated children”. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The figures were revealed on the sidelines of a meeting that the Prime Minister held with the heads of service in Kirundo. The figures relate to the 2021-2022 school year alone, with school dropouts due to the change in the system, according to provincial authorities and school officials.

“The reason behind the dropout is basically the change from the English-speaking education system to the French-speaking system. Children who arrive from English-speaking countries have to move back 2 to 3 classes. Some are discouraged and prefer to drop out of school,” said provincial authorities.

The Prime Minister ordered school officials to “reserve a warm welcome for repatriated children” and “above all to submit the report to the minister in charge of education”.

Kirundo is one of the provinces of Burundi which receives many returnees. They mainly come from the Mahama camp in Rwanda.