At least 30 private secondary schools in Rwanda closed down at the beginning of 2017 and more are likely to fall in the peril as student enrollment dramatically reduces.

Private schools started losing students in favour of public schools in 2009 when the government introduced free-of-charge Nine-Year Basic Education which extended to 12-Year Basic Education (12YBE) in 2012 to help provide universal access.

According to Jean Marie Vianney Usengumuremyi, Chairman of Private Schools Association, only government can save the struggling schools by subsidising them, the idea that government has always rejected.

He said the association which once counted over 200 members, remains with slightly over 100 and 70% of them are struggling to stay afloat.

Isaac Munyakazi, the Minister of State in charge of Primary and Secondary Education, told to media last week that he has not received any report on the problems of private schools but encouraged them to offer a better education than public schools do in order to win a good number of students.

However, prior to the appointment of Munyakazi in the docket in October 2016, Usengumuremyi said the association reported to and held talks with the Ministry of Education (Mineduc) in 2015 and later received a letter from the Minister advising them not to expect government support, something which seriously discouraged private school owners.

“Government should help with staff remunerations, offer school materials as it does for other government-aided schools because we all educate the country’s children. Introduction of 12YBE is good but government forgot of private schools’ mandate,” said Usengumuremyi.

He sharply questioned the government’s attitude towards private schools, saying the government encouraged private investors to build schools at the time the country had no means to meet education requirements while others were established by parents back in the 1980s as public schools were few.

He also suggested that government partner with owners of vacant establishments which have already phased down in re-opening them to offer Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) or other education purposes.

Most of the staggering schools belong to parents’ associations whose efforts to contribute to country’s education should be recognised instead of letting grasses cover establishments they dearly contributed for, according to Jean-Léonard Sekanyange, the headteacher of APECOM, a parents’ secondary school in Gatsibo District, Kiramuruzi Sector.

Sekanyange said APECOM used to have 1200 students but they have reduced to 250 in 2017 and are likely to reduce further every year, leaving many school facilities idle.

Government may use vacant facilities

Minister Munyakazi encouraged owners of battling private schools to contact the ministry which can take over the establishments if investors show that they are getting out without any debts attached to the schools.

“They are many other private schools faring well because they are academically performing well. Some students are still ignoring admission to public schools to pay dearly in private schools. I urge all of them to give quality education to win parents’ choice on where to educate their children,” he said, adding that a study is needed to know why some private schools lack students while others have them in abundance.

Munyakazi said that government-aided schools access support in accordance with the agreement but private investors should start a school when they are ready to compete and convince parents on why they should give them their children.

“We do recognise private schools’ contribution in our education and we help them in many ways including giving them land for establishments, free training of their personnel, inspection and examinations at no cost. We cannot go beyond that to pay their staff and school materials while we still have public schools which need renovation, materials or new facilities,” he said.

Munyakazi said vacant establishments can be used as TVET centres once they are found to be meeting the requirements while others can be used to offer basic education depending on the need in their respective areas.

Statistics from Mineduc show there are at least 1575 secondary schools in the country including 460 government owned, 1037 owned by religious communities with some of them aided by government while 178 were founded by parents and private individuals.

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Head of Rwanda Government Board (RGB) Prof Shyaka Anastase, says that after RPF Inkotanyi liberated the country, Rwanda knew 3 major positive changes namely Rwanda core Values, Peace and security, healing wounds and starting inclusive leadership.

RGB boss Prof Anastase Shyaka says this during a conference on African Liberation that targets to boost solidarity.

Prof Shyaka has said that brought 3 vital things that each of the African countries may have in order to reach on durable development by relaying on themselves.

Prof Shyaka Said: “They are 3 things RPF manages to do for Rwandans such as Rwanda teaching core Values, Peace and security, healing wounds and starting inclusive leadership.”

He added: “When we want to mention a good leader, we can start to our Chairman and the President of The republic of Rwanda His excellency Paul Kagame. He put forward Citizens, a leader with actions.”

On Tuesday, RPF organized a conference on African Liberation that targets to boost solidarity around the common fate that Africans share and RPF’s commitment to contributing to Africa’s transformation.

During this meeting Former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa has said that Rwanda owes its development to the know-how of President Paul Kagame who did not spare any effort to develop Rwanda since liberation struggle started.

RPF Vice Chairman Christopher Bazivamo told participants; “The leadership of the country today was mooted in the aftermath of the Genocide during the national conference that was convened at Village Urugwiro where consensus was agreed upon as the best way to lead our country.”

Other panelists at the conference included among others; Dr. Jendayi Frazer, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, James Mwangi, Executive Director, Dalberg Group, Kenya; Prof. Shyaka Anastase, CEO, Rwanda Governance Board, and Diko Mukete, a lawyer and economic consultant from Cameroon.

The Government of Rwanda and the Republic of Korea signed a financing agreement worth $7 million to support ICT development in schools.

Dubbed Capacity Development for ICT in Education (CADIE), the three year support (2017-2020) is set to help equip 43000 primary and secondary school teachers with ICT skills in all the districts of the country.

The project will run from 2017 to 2020 implemented by the Rwanda Education Board. It will focus on capacity building of 43000 primary and secondary school teachers as well as 446 district and sector education officers regarding using ICT in education.

Speaking after the signing, Claver Gatete, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning noted that Rwanda places education as a key sector to lead social and economic transformation, tapping into the limitless potential of an empowered population.

“In realization of the huge potentials of ICT in education, the government has heavily invested on developing its respective ICT in education plans and on bringing various ICT equipment and resources into schools. Alongside these investments, the role and capacity of teachers have become more critical than ever. The challenge is how to enable teachers not only to overcome the technology barriers but also to empower them to integrate appropriate technology into the teaching and learning process,” Minister Gatete added.

“Korea is widely known as a country that has achieved remarkable economic growth after emerging from the ruins of war in half a century, which is probably the shortest comeback period of any nation in human history. Education has played a crucial role in making such rapid progress. In particular, the use of ICT has been regarded as a key driving force behind Korea’s educational development,” Kim Eung-joong, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea said.

President Paul Kagame has warned his new Cabinet against becoming complacent, saying Rwanda being landlocked faces unique challenges.

He was speaking in Parliament after presiding over the swearing-in ceremony of 20 ministers and 11 state ministers that make up his new government.

“We are a landlocked country. We face challenges that are different from our neighboring countries. To solve these issues, we need to do things differently. We can’t afford to get in the comfort zone,” President Kagame said.

With Rwanda importing nearly twice as much as it exports, it faces the daunting task of growing and diversifying its trade volumes.

In addition, the country pays heavily on transport costs importing and exporting goods through Kenya’s Mombasa port and Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam. Non-tariff barriers also limit trade significantly.

“We need to build capacity to tackle these difficult issues we face. We need to strengthen our resilience.”

The President also warned against ministries, departments, and agencies working in isolation saying it affects efficiency and delivery of government services to the public.

“We can’t afford (it),” he said, insisting that “this must change.”

Improve

Zeroing in on infrastructure, education, agriculture, and justice dockets, whose ministers retained their posts, President Kagame demanded to see improvement in service delivery.

“We must deliver on our promises,” he told them.

The head of State warned against embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds saying it would not be tolerated. He called on Johnston Busingye, the Justice Minister, to prosecute those found culpable.

According to the 2015/16 Auditor-General’s report, persistent cases of mismanagement have led to the loss of taxpayers’ billions of Rwandan francs and also undermined the government’s service delivery.

It further states that there are cases of wasteful expenditure, but the diversion of public resources and unsupported transactions had reduced.

“It is our duty to fight this culture of everyone working as they please and mismanaging public funds. Nobody should embezzle public funds and get away with it,” he said.

Though President Kagame is credited for being intolerant to graft, global anti-corruption lobby Transparency International says only low-ranking officials pay the price while senior government officers most times go scot-free.

“I am not asking anyone to do the impossible. We need to work smart and efficiently. The opposite is very costly,” he said.

The outgoing Minister of State in charge of Transport, Dr. Alexis Nzahabwanimana handed over powers to the newly appointed Minister of State Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye in a ceremony that took place at Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA) Headquarters in Kacyiru.

The ceremony was led by the Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. James Musoni and witnessed by the Minister of State in charge of Energy and Water, Hon. Germaine Kamayirese, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Chief Executive Officers, Director Generals and Managing Directors of the Ministry’s affiliated agencies,the Ministry’s Officials and Staff as well as media houses.

Speaking at the event ceremony, Dr. Alexis Nzahabwanimana expressed his gratitude to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Rwanda for the trust in him since 2010 along his career in Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA) and MININFRA. He also praised the support of the Ministry’s Officials and Staff in fulfilling his mandate.

Hon. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye expressed his appreciation for the work done by the outgoing Minister of State in charge of Transport and assured to improve transport sector in Rwanda, and said that he would build on the foundation his predecessor has laid. He promised a strong collaboration and team work with employees of the Ministry of Infrastructure and its affiliated agencies to achieve infrastructure and service expectations.

The Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. James Musoni focused on the importance of the efficient coordination mechanisms towards infrastructure projects for the development of the country and improvement of life of Rwandans.

“We are committed to put in place strong monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure better implementation of infrastructure projects from the national level to districts”, said Musoni during the function.

The outgoing Minister of State in charge of Transport, Dr. Alexis Nzahabwanimana handed over powers to the newly appointed Minister of State Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye in a ceremony that took place at Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA) Headquarters in Kacyiru.

The ceremony was led by the Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. James Musoni and witnessed by the Minister of State in charge of Energy and Water, Hon. Germaine Kamayirese, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Chief Executive Officers, Director Generals and Managing Directors of the Ministry’s affiliated agencies,the Ministry’s Officials and Staff as well as media houses.

Speaking at the event ceremony, Dr. Alexis Nzahabwanimana expressed his gratitude to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Rwanda for the trust in him since 2010 along his career in Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA) and MININFRA. He also praised the support of the Ministry’s Officials and Staff in fulfilling his mandate.

Hon. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye expressed his appreciation for the work done by the outgoing Minister of State in charge of Transport and assured to improve transport sector in Rwanda, and said that he would build on the foundation his predecessor has laid. He promised a strong collaboration and team work with employees of the Ministry of Infrastructure and its affiliated agencies to achieve infrastructure and service expectations.

The Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. James Musoni focused on the importance of the efficient coordination mechanisms towards infrastructure projects for the development of the country and improvement of life of Rwandans.

“We are committed to put in place strong monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure better implementation of infrastructure projects from the national level to districts”, said Musoni during the function.

Police had confirmed they have in their custody Emmanuel Kamanzi, the Managing Director of the Energy Development Corporation Ltd (EDCL) and the outgoing water utility boss James Sano.

Sano was until Saturday, the CEO of the Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC).

According to Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner of Police Theos Badege, the two are being investigated for illegalities in awarding public tenders and misuse of the property of public interest.

They were both arrested on Saturday, according to Badege.

“Investigations reveal that Sano illegally awarded a single source tender worth 61M to Cerrium Advisory Ltd. The bid was aimed to prepare and conduct exams for new employees. He also illegally awarded a bid for constructing a pumping water station in Kayenzi-Kamonyi worth Rwf371M without a bill of quantity,” Badege said.

Kamanzi is also accused of disregarding standard procedures in issuing tenders for transformers and electric poles.

“He awarded a tender of 10 defective transformers and 400 electric poles worth $45,000 and $280,000 respectively,” the police publicist said.

Badege added: “The law enforcement action is in line with zero tolerance to corruption and public funds embezzlement which is counterproductive to national development and social welfare.”

He said investigations are still ongoing to identify any other accomplices.

It should be noted that Sano was replaced over the weekend by Aime Muzora, in a statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister.

The debate brought together students from Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

She said it was their school that informed them about the competition and selected those that represented the Bugesera District-based school.

“We then started intense preparations and I believe it paid off because we came back with the trophy,” Semwaga said.

Speaking about the subjects that most interested her during the competition, Teta mentioned Pan-Africanism, around which the motion for the final debate was crafted.

There was also another about beauty contest and grand state corruption where some debaters said those found guilty of corruption should face the death penalty.

She added that it was a great championship because it involved young generation trying to think of the current issues and possibly the solutions if they are affecting Africa in a bad way.

Nikitah Isabella, 16, a senior five student of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, was third best speaker of the tournament. She said the competition was intense even though they had thought it was going to be easy for Ugandans and South Africans.

“We have learnt a lot and sometimes it is not about the drama, it’s a contest and sometimes you just need to see it from a different angle; an angle that will surprise your opponents,” she said.

“The future is bright mostly because where we went, many thought the debate was only for people who were going to do law, but we proved them wrong because my whole team does sciences,” she added.

Samantha Bell, the debate coach and an American volunteer at Gashora Girls Academy, said when they first learnt they would be competing, most of the girls were apprehensive because they had never competed at such a level before.

“We only stepped up the preparations and when we arrived at the championship and they started debating I was so proud of how well they did. It was so amazing to see how much they’ve grown in the last few months of preparations,” Bell said.

 

Cynthia Cyuzuzo speaks during the debating competition in Uganda. Courtesy

She said debate historically has been dominated by boys.

“Girls can compete on equal level. Girls in science can compete in debate which also breaks a lot of stereotypes. And I think also in Rwanda and in Africa, it seems like people underestimate the English abilities and so lots of people were very impressed by that,” Bell said.

The debate coach also said that the girls’ accomplishment will inspire a lot of other young girls and described it as yet another milestone for Rwanda as a country known to promoting and empowering women. src :  The

src :  The News Times

The outgoing Minister of State in charge of Transport, Dr. Alexis Nzahabwanimana handed over powers to the newly appointed Minister of State Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye in a ceremony that took place at Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA) Headquarters in Kacyiru.

The ceremony was led by the Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. James Musoni and witnessed by the Minister of State in charge of Energy and Water, Hon. Germaine Kamayirese, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Chief Executive Officers, Director Generals and Managing Directors of the Ministry’s affiliated agencies,the Ministry’s Officials and Staff as well as media houses.

Speaking at the event ceremony, Dr. Alexis Nzahabwanimana expressed his gratitude to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Rwanda for the trust in him since 2010 along his career in Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA) and MININFRA. He also praised the support of the Ministry’s Officials and Staff in fulfilling his mandate.

Hon. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye expressed his appreciation for the work done by the outgoing Minister of State in charge of Transport and assured to improve transport sector in Rwanda, and said that he would build on the foundation his predecessor has laid. He promised a strong collaboration and team work with employees of the Ministry of Infrastructure and its affiliated agencies to achieve infrastructure and service expectations.

The Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. James Musoni focused on the importance of the efficient coordination mechanisms towards infrastructure projects for the development of the country and improvement of life of Rwandans.

“We are committed to put in place strong monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure better implementation of infrastructure projects from the national level to districts”, said Musoni during the function.