Burundi: Free Education Most Beneficial for Girls from Poorest Backgrounds

A new study on Burundi’s 2005 free primary education reform reveals that while the policy increased girls’ schooling by an average of 1.22 years, its most profound impact was among the poorest. Teenage pregnancy rates dropped by 6.9 percentage points among low-income girls, who also showed gains in literacy, income-earning potential, and reproductive autonomy. Wealthier girls, though equally more educated, did not see similar life-changing benefits. The study highlights that while education policies can improve lives, their effects are not equally distributed across all socioeconomic groups. Policymakers are urged to look beyond average outcomes and tailor interventions to reach the most disadvantaged girls for maximum impact.

The Conversation