Training Pathway:

Teacher education in Burundi operates a dual track system providing upper-secondary and tertiary-based qualifications depending on the level of education to be taught. Aspiring primary school teachers are trained in pedagogical upper secondary schools (lycées pédagogiques) which is a 4-year program that comes after Grade 9, culminating in the Diplôme de Qualification Pédagogique. Teacher training for secondary education is mostly done at the Institut de Pédagogie Appliquée (IPA), which is part of the University of Burundi. Entry requirement is a Diplôme d'État, and programs follow the tertiary-level BMD framework: a three-year program for lower secondary education ending in the Diplôme Professionnel d'Enseignement, and a four-year program for upper secondary education ending in the Diplôme de Licencié Agrégé de l'Enseignement Secondaire.

Certification Requirements:

In Burundi, completion of teacher training programs qualifies individuals to teach. However, new policy initiatives—led by UNICEF (https://www.unicef.org/burundi/education) and the Global Partnership for Education (https://www.globalpartnership.org/where-we-work/burundi) —ensures the trend towards standardizing qualifications, increasing in-service training, and strengthening competency-based requirements.

Continuing Professional Development:

While there are no legally mandated CPD credits for teachers in Burundi, teachers are strongly encouraged to engage in CPD activities to stay updated on educational advancements and improve student outcomes, ensuring continuous professional growth. This typically includes workshops and training sessions on curriculum development, classroom management, and educational technology.