Languages in Burundi

Kirundi, also called Ikirundi, is Burundi’s national language and the main language of everyday interaction, public identity and communication between different communities. Under the 2014 language law, Kirundi, French and English are official languages. Kiswahili is not listed as an official language, but it has strong regional importance for trade, communication around Lake Tanganyika and mobility near the eastern borders. Official status does not mean that people or institutions use all three official languages with the same level of proficiency. The national education framework teaches Kirundi and French from the first year of school, English from the third year and Kiswahili from the fifth year. Under Decree No. 100/078 of 22 May 2019, Kirundi and French are the main languages of instruction. Kirundi generally carries instruction in the first two cycles, while mathematics changes to French from the fourth year. From the third cycle, French becomes the main instructional language, with entrepreneurship, social sciences, arts and physical education taught in Kirundi. Schools may use English as a language of instruction when the necessary conditions exist, and implementation can differ by grade and institution. Adult and foreign-language learning is more fragmented. The University of Burundi’s CELAB offers adult learning in French, Kirundi, Kiswahili and other languages, while the Institut français du Burundi offers French from A1 to C2, professional French, English, Kiswahili and Kirundi. Courses may be collective, individual, on-site or home-based. Private and international schools, employers, non-governmental organisations, peer groups, workplaces, media and self-study provide additional routes, but their availability depends strongly on the provider and locality. Language choice often follows the situation. French is especially relevant for administration, formal education and state or NGO documents. English has growing value for the East African Community, international organisations, diplomacy and business. Kiswahili is useful for regional commerce and cross-border movement. Employers can set their own language requirements, and a school certificate or official-language status does not by itself prove practical fluency. The Institut français du Burundi provides an international French examination pathway. DELF and DALF are lifetime diplomas, while the TCF is an assessment whose attestation is valid for two years. The published 2026 DELF/DALF session runs from 16 to 21 November, with registration from 6 to 30 October. Published fees are 150,000 BIF for DELF A1-A2, 200,000 BIF for B1, 250,000 BIF for B2 and 350,000 BIF for DALF C1-C2. The published 2026 TCF fees are 850,000 BIF for the full test, 800,000 BIF on computer and 300,000 BIF for a module; dates and availability remain provider-specific. Published 2026 Institut français course examples are not a national tariff. A 30-hour course over ten weeks costs 200,000 BIF for French plus a 40,000 BIF placement test. Group courses in Kiswahili or Kirundi cost 400,000 BIF when more than five learners enrol and 600,000 BIF with smaller groups. Professional French and English cost 300,000 BIF for groups of more than five and 500,000 BIF for smaller groups, normally plus the placement test. Individual tuition is listed at 900,000 BIF for 30 hours or 350,000 BIF for 10 hours. Digital materials, audio, multimedia laboratories and online self-study can extend learning, but they do not replace classroom or community practice for everyone. Devices, electricity, connectivity, data costs and digital skills restrict access. Urban-rural differences, poverty, displacement, gender, disability and local provider capacity also affect participation. Returnee children may face language-of-instruction barriers; UNICEF-supported remedial French and Kirundi assistance reached about 7,400 returnee children since 2022. Current course places, fees, examination dates and school-level language arrangements should be checked directly with the responsible institution.