In a troubling trend, 35 teachers have left their positions during the first term of the current school year in Kirundo Province, disrupting education in the region, according to Léocadie Mukaporona, head of the Directorate of Education in the province. Mukaporona has said that the lengthy process of replacing teachers has further aggravated the situation.
Kirundo, already struggling with a critical teacher shortage, requires 500 additional educators. However, the government recently allocated only 44 positions. Local authorities and parents have been urged to support volunteer teachers to help bridge the gap.
The teacher exodus is not limited to Kirundo. In Kayanza Province, 15 teachers left their posts during the first term, while 18 departed from Ngozi Province. Education officials cite challenges such as repaying collective loans, seeking better opportunities in countries like Kenya, Uganda, and South Korea, or relocating to urban areas like Bujumbura. Both provinces face acute shortages, requiring 2,000 new teachers while only slightly more than 100 are expected to be hired.
The Federation of National Education and Teaching Unions of Burundi (FENASSEB) attributes the departures to low salaries that fail to keep pace with the country’s rising cost of living. Antoine Manuma, president of FENASSEB, emphasized the need for reform, stating, “The government’s salary policy does not reflect economic realities.”
The crisis extends beyond primary and secondary education. In December, the University of Burundi reported 231 staff resignations since 2020, with 118 departures, including 41 lecturers, recorded in 2024 alone. Rector Audace Manirambona warned of disruptions to university operations and declining service quality, urging swift government action to curb the exodus.
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