The educational system of Burundi has been hard hit by ethnic violence and war. Rebels and the military have targeted ethnically mixed schools. Teachers and administrators were killed or fled the country. School buildings have been used to house displaced people so could not be used for education. An embargo has made the acquisition of educational material difficult. Hutu students have been dismissed from the University and all university students must do military service.

The UN Children's Fund estimated primary school attendance in 1996 at 48% and the government in 1998 put the figure at 60%, which is debatable. Only 7% of secondary aged students attended school, and only 4% of eligible girls. Less than 1% of the eligible population are attending colleges or universities. [1]

[1] The Economist Intelligence Unit. 1998-99. Country Profile. Rwanda and Burundi. The Unit: London.

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.3% male: 49.3% female: 22.5% (1995 est.)

Source: CIA World Fact Book