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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