The ministry of education has recently decided to harmonize the payment of school fees in private schools in Burundi. The decision sets fees to be paid according to the categories to which schools belong. Some school officials call on the minister to cancel the decision.
Gilbert Becaud Njangwa: “The decision will affect private schools’ program as the school year will begin in few days.”
Gilbert Bécaud Njangwa, Legal representative of some private schools operating in Burundi, says the decision will affect the internal organization of these schools. “Private schools organize themselves and pay school materials, water and electricity bills as well as teachers. They have their own contract with parents of the students who study in these schools. The ministry should not meddle in the organization of their schools”.
He says there have not been enough inquiries to know the categories in which schools should be placed. “They said they considered schools that have their own buildings yet some schools have bank loans and this was not taken into consideration”.
Mr Njangwa also has said the ministry of education has taken this decision while there remain few days to begin the new school year and this would disturb the program of the concerned schools.
Herménégilde Burikukiye, Inspector general of fundamental and post- fundamental education, says private schools were classified per categories and many criteria were taken into consideration. “The building of the school, materials, the qualification of teachers and how they are paid are among the criteria that the commission took into consideration to classify the schools.”
Mr Burikukiye says they have spoken with some schools representatives before the decision was taken.
The maximum amount to be paid in private day schools is 200,000 per trimester in category A schools and 30,000 in category D schools.
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