Education System in Burundi


 EducationSchool/LevelGradesAgeYearsNotes
PrimaryEcole primaire (until 2013)1–66–126Certificat de Fin ďEtudes Primaires (Certificate of End of Primary Studies)
PrimaryEnseignement fondamental (since 2013)1–96–159Certificat de fin d’études fondamentales (Certificate of Completion of Basic Studies) and Diplôme ďEtat (State Diploma)
MiddleCollège (until 2013)7–1012–164Certificat du Tronc Commun (Common Cycle Certificate)
SecondaryLycée général (until 2013)11–1317–293Diplôme ďEtat (State Diploma)
SecondaryÉtudes postfondamentales générales (since 2013)10–1215–183Certificat de fin d’études postfondamentales générales (Completion of General Post-Basic Studies Certificate)
VocationalCollège- Lycée technique (until 2013)7–1313–197Technicien A3 (A3 Technician) - 5 years Technicien A2 (A2 Technician) - 7 years
VocationalEnseignement secondaire technique (since 2013)10–1215–183–4Diplôme A2 (A2 Diploma). Varies in length 3-4 years based on discipline
VocationalEnseignants du primaire4Primary school teachers are trained in lycée pédagogiques or in four years in teacher training institutes following upon Collège (4 years of secondary school).
TertiaryPremier cycle universitaire (ancien système pre-2011)2Candidature
TertiaryBaccalauréat (BMD post-2011)3Three years post-secondary study
TertiaryEnseignant secondaire 3Diplôme Professionnel ďEnseignement (Professional Teaching Diploma)
TertiaryDeuxième cycle universitaire (ancien système pre-2011)2Two years' study beyond the Candidature leads to the Licence
TertiaryMastère de recherche (BMD post-2011)2Two years study beyond the Baccalauréat leads to the Mastère
TertiaryTroisème cycle universitaire (ancien système pre-2011)2Two years following upon the Licence or the Diplôme d'Ingénieur
TertiaryDoctorat (BMD post-2011)3Three years study beyond the Mastère leads to the Doctorat

Primary Education

Education in Burundi is compulsory for 6 years, meaning that every child is supposed to complete their primary education. Unfortunately half a million children never enter school at all. Of those who do, just 36% complete this phase. The genders are however fairly evenly represented.

Secondary Education

The remaining seven years are intended to be spent at secondary school, although few children in Burundi ever have the opportunity, as average school dwell time is just short of 5 years. The language of instruction continues to be Kirundi or French. The academic model is similar to the one used in France.



Tertiary Education

Burundi EducationTertiary enrollment is just over 1%. The only institution is the University of Burundi in Bujumbura which was founded in 1960, and is illustrated here in better days.

The buildings were badly damaged during the civil war, and only 3,000 students currently study under deteriorating conditions. Despite this, it maintains faculties of arts & humanities, law, medicine, psychology & education science, pure sciences, applied sciences, and agricultural science. It also hosts institutes of agriculture, commerce, sports & physical education, technology, and pedagogy.




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