Communal schools and alternative structures for post-primary education: strategies for extension of basic education in Burundi

This case study focuses on the topic of «Communal schools and alternativepost primary educational structures: strategies for extending basic educationin Burundi». Communal schools in Burundi, which are managed jointly by theCommunal Administrator and the Principal appointed by the Ministry responsiblefor secondary education, are proximity schools which are most popular atlocal level and have developed very fast. They are currently the main componentof secondary education (where they account for 80.3% of the first cycle).In parallel, in the non formal sector, alternative post primary educational (PPE)structures have developed in Burundi, which are mainly attended by primaryleavers who have not transited to formal secondary schools. These structures,which are of various kinds, dispense relevant vocational training enablingyoung people to subsequently join the world of work. However, they are notsufficiently numerous to cater for large numbers of beneficiaries.This study raises questions about the possibility of extending access to postprimaryeducation, in view of the considerable potential of these structures