Minister raps school heads over Genocide ideology

The State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Theoneste Mutsindashyaka has warned head teachers who harbor the Genocide ideology that concrete actions would be taken upon them if caught.

Friday, July 25, 2008
Thu00e9oneste Mitsindashyaka(C) adressing head teachers yesterday. (PhotoG/Barya).

The State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Theoneste Mutsindashyaka has warned head teachers who harbor the Genocide ideology that concrete actions would be taken upon them if caught.

He was speaking Thursday at the official opening of the annual meeting that brought together all Public and Private secondary school head teachers at Kigali Serena Hotel.

"You are the masterminds of the genocide ideology existing in some schools you lead. You should immediately denounce that mentality, if not so, harsh punishments will be taken upon any of you discovered,” an angry State Minister warned.

Early this year, the former Minister of Education who currently occupies the Gender portfolio, Dr.Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya and her then state Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Joseph Murekeraho, were quizzed by Parliament over the alarming genocide ideology in some schools in the country.

Mutsindashyaka  told the estimated 750 head teachers who attended the meeting that almost 80% of them fuelled the genocide ideology in their respective schools.

He advised them to forget that culture of divisionism among themselves and work together as a team which will drive them to sustainable development.

The minister also urged Head teachers to have self esteem and work hard to make a new developed Education structure for their country.

He said that a good teacher can produce good students who in turn can also become good educationists and contribute to the country’s progress.

He reminded them that the country’s biggest challenge in the Education sector is at the Secondary level, where Students join Universities and graduate with no clear knowledge.

"It is so absurd to ask a graduate student from one of the Universities here to write a document and he fails it. He may do it in either English or French but still you remain confused over the language he used. This is caused by a poor Secondary background which you should improve from today,” he said.

On the ICT side, the State Minister promised Head teachers they would be soon trained and equipped withlLaptops that will enable them access IT in the field.

He revealed that in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, and Rwanda Development Gateway, about 35 Schools lacking electricity will soon have with solar energy installed.

Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID) representative, Richard Alfred, said that the department he was representing is ready to provide more support as a reward to good usa of aid given to Rwanda.

He added that DFID will soon facilitate head teachers to graduate in School Management at KIE through the long distance learning system.

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