Press Release
6 October 2005
Children flock to free schools in Burundi, UK to provide £2m support
Schools in Burundi have seen class sizes swell in the first few weeks of term after the newly-elected government's decision to scrap primary school fees brought an extra 500,000 children to school.
International Development Secretary Hilary Benn said: "President Nkurunziza's decision to provide free primary education is a courageous step and will allow many more families to send their children to school."
"Burundi has already seen a dramatic increase in the number of children going to school. That's why the UK is providing £2 million in immediate assistance, to help provide more classrooms and teachers."
In some areas of the war-torn country, there are 150 pupils in a single class and early forecasts indicate enrolment rates could double in the next school year. When school fees were abolished in Kenya and Tanzania class sizes dramatically increased, demanding more teachers, classrooms and books.
The UK contribution of £2 million will support and extend UNICEF's ongoing 'Back To School' programme in Burundi. The funds will help UNICEF in it's programme to construct 100 temporary classrooms, refurbish 500 schools, and provide water and sanitation facilities. Fast-track training will be made available for up to 3,000 unqualified teachers and for 1,000 former teachers returning to education.
The UK is also in talks with the Government of Burundi on how to provide longer term-assistance to free education in the country.
Notes to Editors:
1. Hilary Benn announced £2 million DFID support for schooling in Burundi, to extend UNICEF's ongoing programme there, at the NUT's World Teachers Day Conference held on Wednesday 5th October in London.
2. In addition to supporting Burundi, DFID provides bilateral support to education programmes in over 30 developing countries, mostly in Sub-Saharan African and South and West Asia. DFID helps governments to develop their own education plans to get more children into school by removing fees, providing books and equipment, building new schools, paying teacher salaries and providing teacher training.
3. The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were agreed at the United Nations Millennium Summit in September 2000 and nearly 190 countries have subsequently signed up to them. MDG 2 sets out the goal to achieve universal primary education by 2015 to ensure that all boys and girls complete a full course of primary schooling.
4. For further information, please contact DFID Press Office 020 7023 0600
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