BUJUMBURA September 2nd (ABP) – The First Lady of Burundi, Mrs. Angéline Ndayishimiye, accompanied by the Minister of National Education and Scientific Research, Dr. François Havyarimana, participated on Tuesday, August 31, in Bujumbura, in the opening ceremonies for the 2021-202 school year at the MAARIF International School, a check on the site by ABP has revealed.
In her occasional speech, Mrs. Ndayishimiye said that the MAARIF Foundation International School provides quality education, which is an advantage for Burundi, given that most of the pupils are of Burundian nationality. In addition, she said, the Turkey where that school originated from is recognized for providing a flavorful education internationally. On that occasion, she called on other international associations working in Burundi to follow Turkey’s example by creating schools in Burundi in order to contribute to education which is, according to her, the pillar of the development of any nation.
The Burundian Minister in charge of National Education, meanwhile, informed that the International School of the MAARIF Foundation located in Burundi is the result of an initiative that has its roots in the coordinated and harmonious partnership between the Republic of Burundi and that of Turkey. That is an eloquent sign which undoubtedly testifies to the good relations of cooperation and friendship between the two countries, he said. Burundi and Turkey are, in fact, more determined than ever to mark time to diversify the angles of bilateral cooperation for the happiness of their people, education being the umbilical cord likely to unite them in a lasting way, he has explained. Under those conditions, he continued, the Ministry in charge of National Education will spare no effort to contribute to the development of the International School of the MAARIF Foundation as long as all the requests addressed to it ” will directly register the norms and standards dictated by the existing legislation in Burundi.
He thus took the opportunity to remind all promoters of schools with foreign programs to scrupulously observe the provisions of the ordinance jointly signed by the Burundian ministers in charge of Foreign Affairs and Education of November 23. 2018, which sets the legal framework applicable to schools with foreign programs and specifies, in general, the functioning of those schools in Burundi.
By way of illustration, Minister Havyarimana cited the obligation of any school with a foreign program to involve the National Commission for Basic and Post-Basic Education to supervise the administration of any final exam. In addition, he said, that body must be involved in all related stages, from receipt to return of packages. He also encouraged school promoters to develop, in their training, the curriculum of the Burundian education system translated into English in order to respond to the concerns of some parents who would like their children to learn in that language.
At a time when the whole world, including Burundi, is facing COVID-19, the Burundian Minister of National Education and Scientific Research invites the officials of this school and the entire school community to fight against this pandemic while by respecting the barrier measures as established by the Ministry of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS. He took that opportunity to announce that the start of the school year for all schools with a Burundian program will take place on September 13, 2021.