Orphanage28 which takes care of children who have no family. Private Orphanages (care centres)
were cited (see paragraph 66).
VIII. EDUCATION, LEISURE AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
119. Article 53 of the 2005 Constitution provides that "Every citizen has the right to equal access to
instruction, education and culture. The State has the duty to organise public education and to
promote access to it. However, the right to found private schools is guaranteed under the conditions
set by law. In addition, paragraph 2 of Article 30 of the same Constitution further provides that
"parents have the natural right and the duty to educate and raise their children. They are supported
in this task by the State and the public authorities ". Thus, the education sector remains one of
Burundi's major concerns. This is evidenced by the priority given to issues relating to it.29
120. Despite the consequences of the socio-political crisis, Burundi has developed policies,
strategies, laws, programmes and plans to promote access to education for all. As national
strategies, it is worth noting (i) Burundi Vision 2025, (ii) PRSP II.
121. To this end, Burundi introduced a reform that allowed for the transition to a basic education
system. In fact, the certificate of completion of primary studies is no longer issued and the basic
school issues the certificate of completion of the cycle after year 9
122. In this context, the priorities are:
(i) Reduction of the repetition rate;
(ii) the increase in actual teaching hours;
(iii) the revision of school programmes and curricula;
(iv) strengthening the system of initial and in-service training of teachers and;
(v) improving the management and piloting of basic education.30
123. Other policies are being implemented with the aim of eradicating all forms of discrimination in
access to education, particularly for girls, including "the gender equity strategy paper on
Education”, (August 2012), The National Gender Policy 2012-2025, adopted in June 2012. "
124. The development of the "Gender Equity Strategy Paper on Education" provided a strategy for
gender equity in the education sector and accompanying action plans on reducing disparities in
28
Official Orphanage of Bujumbura which is under the supervision of the Ministry of Human Rights, Social Affairs and
Gender.
29
Different strategic planning instruments such as Vision 2025, PRSP I and II.
30
CSLPII, p. 21
30