Education Crisis Deepens in Kayanza as Teacher Departures Reach Alarming Levels

In a troubling development, the education sector in Kayanza province is facing a significant challenge with the mass departure of teachers. The Provincial Director of Education, Juvénal Mbonihankuye, has reported that 15 teachers have already abandoned their posts before the end of the current school year’s first trimester, raising concerns about the impact on the province’s educational stability.

The situation is dire, as the province faces a critical shortage of more than 900 teachers. Although the Ministry of Education has announced plans to recruit 54 new teachers, Mbonihankuye considers this a partial solution to a much larger issue. Last year, the province experienced 44 cases of teacher desertion, further exacerbating the crisis.

Mbonihankuye said that these departures are severely disrupting the smooth running of schools in Kayanza, and he urges the Ministry of Education to take immediate action to address the root causes. He emphasized the need for a lasting solution to ensure the future of the students in the region.

The Federation of National Education and Teaching Unions of Burundi (FENASSEB) attributes the high turnover to the low wages that teachers receive, which do not reflect the current economic realities of the country. Antoine Manuma, president of FENASSEB, said that the situation is being felt across all levels of the education sector, with many teachers leaving due to insufficient pay. “The salary does not consider the rising cost of living, and the government’s salary policy has failed to make a significant impact,” said Manuma.

The teacher shortage is not confined to Kayanza. The University of Burundi has also witnessed a significant exodus of staff, with over 200 employees leaving in the past five years. This year alone, more than 40 lecturers have departed. In a letter to the Minister of Education, the University’s Rector, Audace Manirambona, expressed concern about the potential disruption this trend could cause to the university’s operations and the quality of services provided.

The Federation is calling for open, honest discussions with the government to address the pressing issues facing the education sector, with a particular focus on improving teacher salaries to prevent further departures.