The Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research has permanently closed multiple private schools and sections across the country for failing to comply with regulations, sparking concern among education stakeholders just weeks before the start of the 2025–2026 school year.
In a statement released on Thursday, the ministry confirmed that around ten private schools or sections operating within various Provincial Education Directorates will not reopen when classes resume in September.
“As part of preparations for the 2025–2026 school year, the Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research informs parents and students that some schools that operated during the 2024–2025 year will be closed starting from the next school year due to non-compliance with current regulations,” the statement read. “The same applies to certain cycles, sections, and programs.”
Among the affected institutions is École Intercontinentale de Bujumbura in Bujumbura province, which the ministry said was shut down for “arrogating the right to issue diplomas in the Banking and Insurance section from 2020 to 2023 without authorization or exemption.”
The closures extend beyond Bujumbura. In Karusi, eastern Burundi, the Lycée Technique La Référence was ordered to close its Management Information Technology section, which, according to the ministry, has been operating without authorization since 2019. Similarly, the Management Information Technology section at Lycée Saint Paul in Ngagara, Bujumbura, was shut down for “illegal operations.”
The decision has drawn criticism from figures in the private education sector. Harouna Nkunduwiga, an advocate for private education in Burundi, described the move as regrettable.
“Closing or suspending a school is a painful measure in the education sector,” he said. “The question is: were the alleged faults of these schools thoroughly verified? Were they given time to correct them? If not, the ministry may have acted too hastily.”
Nkunduwiga, a former senior official at the education ministry, emphasized that the goal of private school owners should not be solely profit.
“For those running private schools, quality should make the difference. Investment in this sector is a long-term commitment,” he said.
The ministry has advised parents to ensure that any institution in which they plan to enroll their children has the proper authorization.
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