Trapped in Debt: How Unpredictable Student Loan Grants Are Shattering Dreams
- Although the Government of Burundi recently announced an increase in scholarship loans for all students of the University of Burundi, some students on campus are lamenting that they...
- Fulgence Korimana, vice representative of students in this academic institution, expressed his concerns: "We are delighted with the decision to increase this amount, but what is the importance...
- He notes that the answer always remains the same every time this question is raised with the bodies responsible for managing the student loan grant: "The process is...
Students at Buhumuza Campus Face Challenges with Scholarship Loans and Lack of Equipment
Buhumuza campus students say they live in difficult conditions
Although the Government of Burundi recently announced an increase in scholarship loans for all students of the University of Burundi, some students on campus are lamenting that they have not received a cent for six months to ensure their survival.
Fulgence Korimana, vice representative of students in this academic institution, expressed his concerns: “We are delighted with the decision to increase this amount, but what is the importance of this increase if students have to spend this period without receiving a penny to survive?”
He notes that the answer always remains the same every time this question is raised with the bodies responsible for managing the student loan grant: “The process is being processed.”
Students also face challenges with the lack of equipment, especially teaching materials and computers to facilitate research in this academic institution. “We are a community of around 600 students, but the number of functional computers is estimated to be between 15 and 20, which limits students’ research possibilities and negatively affects the quality of teaching,” said Mr. Korerimana.
Rising Market Prices Exacerbate the Situation
“We live a difficult life like our fellow soldiers in the economic capital. The increase in food prices affects all of us, be it students from Bujumbura or those from the interior of the country,” explained DN, another student from the Institute of Land Administration and Cartography (IACF).
This end-of-cycle student says that the only advantage for students of this bilingual institution is that they can benefit from accommodation from the first year of the baccalaureate, subject to a deduction of 10,000 FBu at source. “We suffer like the others,” he said, before adding that the situation has worsened recently.
These students are worried about the volatility of food prices on the market, to the point of seeing no advantage in the recent decision to increase the scholarship loan. “The measure of increasing the loan grant is not bad in itself. The problem is that our money is losing its value day by day. The prices of beans, rice, and corn flour or cassava, which are the main foods of UB students, continue to increase, making this amount insufficient,” said EK, a second-year baccalaureate student.
Lack of Equipment Affects Students’ Research and Practical Work
Students also lament the absence of essential devices for cartography and land planning in this university. As a result, they have to rent them from the Gitega ETP, and students do not have time for practical work that requires this equipment.
Located in Cankuzo province, the Buhumuza campus is one of the campuses of the University of Burundi. Opened in 2020 as part of the devolution of this public university, it houses the Institute of Land Administration and Mapping. The first class of this institute will graduate this year.