PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
SCHOOLS IN BURUNDI

RUSAGA PRIMARY SCHOOL PROJECT

1. The Rusaga project and the UNICEF funds.

2. Improving the school’s standard of learning and helping the local community
  • Child Sponsoring program
  • Raising funds for the school’s needs
  • Improving farming projects for sustainable development.
  • Building local accommodation for teachers and a medical centre.

According to the latest and final report from the “Burundi Education Reforms and the right to education” published in 2023, the key recommendations for the primary and secondary education in Burundi were:

  • The Introduction of the ICT to improve the standard of learning.
  • The teachers should have an intensive training in English and Swahili
  • The exchange of curricula between teachers to improve their language skills in
    English, French and Swahili.
  • The importance of promoting the learning of French and Swahili in the EAC
    member states and retaining English as the language of instruction and education
    in Burundi.
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BEF aims to improve the standard of learning in primary and secondary schools and the ICT in Burundi. BEF aims to organise intensive seminars and training courses for Primary and Secondary schools teachers to improve their ICT and Language skills (French, English and Swahili). BEF aims to fundraise enough money to purchase or to collect new and used computers to improve the ICT learning skills in Burundi.

Donation of Sanitary Pads – 2021:

During the 2021 school year, Burundi Education Foundation (BEF) launched an initiative to support girls’ education by distributing disposable pads in rural schools. Our first intervention took place at Lyc ́ee St Pierre Claver de Nyangwa, where every girl received a complete disposable kit. This action responds to an urgent national challenge: according to recent findings, over 80% of women and girls in Burundi cannot regularly afford disposable pads or proper underwear, making menstrual protection a luxury rather than a basic need.

In many communities, this lack of access forces girls to rely on unsafe alternatives or to miss school during menstruation. The consequences are severe: repeated absenteeism, declining academic performance, social stigma, and in some cases, permanent school dropout. These effects are even more pronounced in rural areas where household income is extremely limited and menstrual hygiene is often poorly understood or openly stigmatized.

By providing sustainable, disposable pads, BEF aims to remove this barrier and offer girls a safer, more dignified school experience. Our goal is to reach as many schoolgirls as possible across the country, ensuring that menstruation never prevents a girl from accessing education, maintaining her health, or securing her future.

Rusaga 2019 – School Kit Distribution :

In 2018, following the construction of the new Fundamental school in Rusaga, Burundi Ed- ucation Foundation (BEF) launched an initiative to directly support the children who were beginning their educational journey in this newly established learning environment. While the school itself represented a major step forward for the community of Rusaga in Gitega province, BEF recognized that infrastructure alone was not enough to overcome the significant daily challenges faced by many families.

To ensure that every child could attend classes with dignity and the basic tools needed to learn, BEF organized the distribution of school kits to the first cohort of students. Despite limited resources and the small number of enrolled pupils at the time, BEF successfully pro- vided school bags, uniforms, pens, books, workbooks, and even shoes to help bridge the gap between access and actual participation in education. These kits not only reduced financial pressure on families but also encouraged regular attendance and boosted children’s motivation and confidence.

This initiative reflects BEF’s broader mission: to promote sustainable development by equip- ping communities not only with infrastructure but also with continued support. By accompa- nying the children of Rusaga beyond the construction phase, BEF aims to create lasting impact and strengthen the foundation for their long-term success.

Rusaga 2024 – Teacher and Student learning materials Distribution :

By 2024, the Rusaga school community had grown significantly, following years of investment in infrastructure and human resources. As part of our long-term vision, Burundi Education Foundation (BEF) continued to strengthen the educational pathway available to local children starting from early childhood education, through primary school, and now extending into sec- ondary classes. Our commitment has always been clear: education must begin at the foundation, and every child, at every stage, deserves the appropriate tools to learn and thrive.

In response to the evolving needs of both students and teachers, BEF launched a compre- hensive distribution of teaching and learning materials in 2024. For the youngest learners, we provided early-age toys, didactic materials, and resources designed to stimulate cognitive and emotional development. For primary and secondary students, we supplied up-to-date learning materials, including textbooks, workbooks, and essential stationery. Recognizing the crucial role of teachers, BEF also delivered a wide range of modern pedagogical tools covering all levels—from early childhood to the secondary curriculum.

This initiative reinforces our mission to ensure that every learner has access to quality edu- cation in the best possible conditions. By equipping both students and teachers, BEF continues to build a sustainable and empowering educational environment for the entire community.