Grades Ages 11 through 18 Enrollment 800 Founded 1952 | Gender Coeducational Number of students 800 Teaching staff 53 | |
Type Public/Catholic, Jesuit Established 1952; 65 years ago (1952) Rector Fr. William Ndayishimiye Bonja | ||
Holy Spirit Lycée (Lycée du Saint-Esprit) in Gihosha, Bujumbura, Burundi, covers ages 11 through 18 and has about 800 students. The Lycée, managed by the Society of Jesus, includes math-physics, biology-chemistry, and modern literature options. It has ranked first in the nation in the national exams.
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History
In 1952 the Jesuit College was located on Kiriri Hill in eastern Bujumbura, under the name Usumbura Interracial College. Since 1955 it has been named for the Holy Spirit. In 1987 it was taken over by the Burundian government and moved to Kamenge, a northern zone of Bujumbura. In 1990 it was returned to the Jesuits and took its present name. It remains in Kamenge but, following with redivision of the city into new administrative units, it is designated as being in the zone of Gihosha. It operates under the designation of public schools under Catholic management. Teaching is in French language while languages taught include the native Kirundi as well as Swahili and English.
Past rectors include Guillaume Ndayishimiye (1990-2000), Ignace Samurenzi (2000-2001), and Robert Albertijn (2001- ). The school was caught up in the bloodshed of the genocides. In 2016 a Tutsi general was assassinated while dropping off his daughter at the school. In this divided and war-torn country, in accord with the laws of Burundi, the ethnic background of students is not identified. All are admitted regardless of religion, social origin. and residence. In line with Jesuit objectives it endeavors to educate toward service of others. The school is subsidized by the Jesuits and tuition is adjusted to the ability of families to pay.
Activities
German and Chinese are taught on a club basis, with support from those countries. The school serves as a center for the national competition in the six subjects tested, mathematics, French, English, physics, chemistry, and biology. Students have won contests in the humanities.
The school hosted the Seventh World Congress of Jesuit Alumni in 2009. The Environmental Club is one of the active clubs on campus, along with a club which makes students aware of the AIDS pandemic. Miss Burundi 2016 is a graduate of the school.