In Kirundo Province, northern Burundi, over 6,000 students dropped out of school during the first trimester of the 2024-2025 school year. This alarming figure, attributed to severe poverty, the suspension of the school feeding program by the World Food Programme (WFP), and early marriages, was revealed by Provincial Education Officer Léocadie Mukaporona in an interview with Burundi’s public broadcaster RTNB on Wednesday.
Mukaporona said that the discontinuation of WFP’s school meal initiative has placed an additional burden on struggling families, exacerbating the dropout crisis. She called for urgent action, urging WFP to reinstate the program to support parents and encourage children to remain in school.
“We call on WFP to resume the program, especially now that the drought has affected many areas in Kirundo Province. By providing school meals, we can help ensure our children complete the school year successfully,” Mukaporona said.
The provincial education office, in collaboration with local authorities, has launched awareness campaigns aimed at encouraging parents to prioritize their children’s education. Mukaporona emphasized that parents must take responsibility for providing basic necessities for their children, instead of relying solely on external support.
“When we meet with parents, we remind them that they must take responsibility for their children’s education. They must understand that raising and feeding their children is their responsibility,” she stated.
Teachers and school administrators are also urged to improve their teaching approaches and provide better guidance to students. Meetings are being held to ensure that educators address challenges effectively and support students at risk of dropping out.
The dropout crisis is not isolated to Kirundo Province. Last week, 4,309 school dropouts—1,993 girls and 2,316 boys—were reported in Kayanza Province, also in northern Burundi, during the first trimester of the current school year. Juvenal Mbonihankuye, Provincial Director of Education, attributed these figures to poverty, lack of awareness about the value of education, and discouragement among students.
The communes most affected in Kayanza are Kabarore, Matongo, Muhuta, and Gatara. Mbonihankuye highlighted the growing demotivation among students, driven by the unemployment of diploma-holders, which reinforces the belief that education does not guarantee a better future. He warned that the issue of dropouts is a “ticking time bomb” with serious societal implications.
To tackle the crisis, Mbonihankuye called on local administrators to ensure children stay in school and penalize parents who prevent their children from returning. Parents were also urged to foster a love for education in their children, while educational partners were encouraged to support efforts to combat the issue. Kayanza Province recorded 16,169 dropouts during the 2023-2024 school year.
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