Forum on Minorities Geneva, 15-16 December 2008, Palais des Nations Presentation on Equal Access to Quality Education for Minorities The case of the Batwa in Burundi By Senator Charles Masabo Email: masaboch@yahoo.fr Introduction The Batwa of Burundi are the third ethnic component of this country. They are both indigenous and a minority. For a long time they have been marginalized and discriminated against by the two other dominant groups (Hutu and Tutsi), which means that the access to quality education for the Batwa of Burundi remains a worrying problem for any observer dedicated to human rights. Main reasons for the lack of access to quality education for the Batwa of Burundi. These reasons are the following: Firstly: marginalization and discrimination Dominant groups did not accept the company of the Batwa, even in the village; they did not share food and drinks together. The Batwa were always sidelined. In the same way, children experience a huge and cruel prejudice, being deprived of their fundamental rights. They do not benefit from education, unlike children of other ethnicities. Currently, the situation in terms of discrimination and marginalization is gradually decreasing, and we observe a significant number of students attending both primary and secondary school (8515 primary school pupils, 429 secondary school pupils). Secondly: remoteness of schools In Burundi, the Batwa live in isolated groups, far from other inhabitants. Therefore, no school infrastructure has been built in their surroundings. Those who were able to study had to walk many kilometers to go to school in the morning and come back home in the evening. The distance of education centers from the homes of the Batwa has been an essential element that led not only to drop-outs, but also parents to simply “forget” enrolling their children in school. Thridly: Education of women and girls Traditional Burundian customs favored education of boys only. For many Burundians “girls are there for housework” This practice also exists among the Batwa. Indeed:  girls are not enrolled in schools in large numbers;  when they get 12 to 15 years old, they are forced into marriage, regardless of whether they are in school or not;