Education important for peace, report says

The NGO International Alert has voiced concern over the education system in Burundi, noting the need to expand and improve it. In a report, the organisation said that historically, state employment in Burundi had been virtually the only alternative to peasant agriculture, and education the only path to advancement. “Access to education has been such that it has been the minority Tutsi who have predominated in the institutions of the state,” the report said. “The exclusion of the Hutu began with unequal access to education and other opportunities during colonial and post-independence times.” Describing the current state of the education system as “desperate”, International Alert noted that many teachers had either been killed or had fled. School buildings had been damaged as the country’s conflict raged on, and teacher morale was low. The report underlined the importance of education for peace. “In order for peace to occur and be sustained, Hutu, Twa and Tutsi alike in all parts of the country, need access to decent education at all levels.” To this end, the organisation urged the resumption of donor aid “devoted to expanding access to education”. “Burundi has for too long been neglected by the rest of the world,” the report said. “Now is the opportunity for a committed re-engagement.” Full report available at http://www.international-alert.org/