Burundi : 5,000 teachers to be recruited soon, shortage exceeds 14,000 positions

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, August 23, 2026 — The Burundian government plans to recruit 5,000 new teachers to bolster staffing levels in primary and secondary schools across the country. The decision, announced following a recent cabinet meeting, aims to address the shortage of qualified personnel in the education sector.

The recruitment will cover schools throughout the country and will be organized at the level of the district education departments (DCEs). According to the terms of reference published by the Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research, the allocation of positions will take into account the priorities identified by the provincial education directorates and the various DCEs.

The ministry plans to recruit 995 teachers with a D6 diploma, 2,538 with a D7 diploma, 22 with an A2 diploma, and 1,445 university-level teachers.

A competitive examination to guarantee equal opportunities

To ensure transparency in the process, the ministry plans to organize a competitive recruitment examination. Committees tasked with overseeing this operation have been in place since August 14, 2026. These committees include representatives from administrative and educational authorities, as well as representatives from labor unions.

Candidates who participated in last year’s recruitment test but were not selected will not be required to retake the examination.

From August 20 to 23, ministry committees visited the various DCEs (Departmental Directorates of Education) to verify the status of candidates on the waiting lists.

In July, the ministry had asked the heads of the DCEs to publish these lists by posting them publicly. Several district directorates have already published their lists.

Candidates on these waiting lists are asking the Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research to closely monitor the process to prevent any irregularities and ensure that those who are actually registered are taken into account.

In some districts, the replacement of retiring teachers has not been carried out according to the waiting lists, according to affected candidates.

These candidates also want the process to be based on merit and equal opportunity, given that unemployment continues to affect many graduates.

A need for more than 14,000 teachers

According to the authorities, the Burundian education system needs more than 14,000 teachers. However, the government plans to limit recruitment to 5,000 this year, primarily due to budgetary constraints.

The Secretary General and government spokesperson, Jérôme Niyonzima, explained that the number of positions allocated depends on available financial resources. More than 17 billion Burundian francs are reportedly being allocated to recruit and pay the salaries of new teachers.

This initiative had already been announced as part of the reforms planned by the Ministry to improve the education sector.

The exodus of qualified teachers is a cause for concern.

This recruitment drive also comes at a time when many qualified teachers have left the country.

In recent years, numerous teachers, both young and experienced, have left in search of better living and working conditions, particularly in neighboring countries, Europe, and some Arab countries.

Poor living and working conditions are frequently cited as the main reasons for these departures. Shortages of basic necessities, difficulties accessing water and electricity, fuel supply problems, and the rising cost of living and rents are also taking their toll on households.

Some teachers say they can no longer cope with these difficulties and are choosing to leave the profession. This situation has direct consequences for pupils, particularly those facing teacher shortages in some schools.

Graduates welcome the measure

University graduates facing unemployment have welcomed the announcement of this recruitment drive. They believe this initiative presents an opportunity for young graduates and could help alleviate the teacher shortage in schools.

However, they urge the Ministry to rigorously monitor the process to prevent favoritism and cronyism.

For them, the success of this operation will depend primarily on the transparency of the competitive examination and adherence to the principle of merit, ensuring that the most qualified and highest-ranked candidates are indeed the ones who benefit from the 5,000 positions.