Besides candidates who are still doing their finals, normal classes for most schools have ended, and students have been sent home for what is the longest annual break on the school calendar — the two months long end of year holiday. Holidays can be a bitter-sweet challenge for parents.

On one hand, they are happy to have their children home with them, resting from the extremely grueling school year, on the other they worry about the sort of mischief the youngsters might get themselves in during the school break. Drug abuse, the influence of bad groups and engaging in risky sexual behaviour are a few of the activities a number of students tend to engage in once outside school, and parents struggle to find ways to keep them active and away from these vices.

How can parents help their children make the most of the holiday?

Speaking to parents, teachers and other stakeholders in the industry, a number of activities were proposed that can help the students to use the holiday productively. The key is to avoid idleness, while allowing time to rest and learn other skills that are different from what is taught in schools.

One of these ways involves engaging the holiday makers in training programmes.

Training programmes

Currently, the Ministry of Education together with the Ministry of Youth and ICT, and the National Itorero Commission are discussing a strategy that is likely to benefit several youths across the country.

Provided the programme is approved, it will give youths the opportunity to engage in a number of activities, such as supporting vulnerable groups, community work and sensitizing local communities on various aspects.

All youths in holidays are eligible for the programme and it will be absolutely free for all.

According to Jean Marie Niyitegeka from the Ministry of Youth and ICT, "The launch will be conducted at national level and will be rolled out in all districts.”

This is why; starting next month, stakeholders from hotels, restaurants, sports venues and the transport sector will be initiated into the programme.

Asked why these people need to be involved, Niyitegeka explained: "Students usually find work in places such as hotels and restaurants, so it is important to keep all stake holders sensitized about certain things that might affect their well being.”

According to Professor Silas Rwakabamba, the Minister for Education, "It is important for students not to stay idle during holidays and it is only through engagement in productive work that they can avoid the consequences of idleness.”

Learning new skills

Shamim Nirere, a school based mentor in GS Mata, Muhanga district, says holidays are the best time for students to pick up or perfect important skills that are not typically taught in school.

"Students should utilize the holiday by learning new skills. They can take computer classes, enroll for driving lessons and volunteer in public places such as hospitals. It is also a good time for them to assist their parents with home chores or any other manageable work.”

Nirere cautions parents to resist the temptation to simply load children with television programmes.

"Most parents rush out to renew the pay TV subscriptions every time the term closes,” she explained.

"They should reduce on the amount of time children spend watching television, while watching out for the kind of materials their children watch on television. Parental guidance is more important during the holiday season.”

Visit new places, engage in sports and business

Richard Mpagazehe, a father of two in Kabeza, says students during holidays need to be kept busy with an organised programme that covers both recreation and instruction.

"I take my children to the swimming pool and once in a while visit the museum too. Sometimes they go and play tennis with other children at a tennis court near the museum in Kanombe,” Mpagazehe explains.

But it is a slightly different approach for Sarah Uwamahoro, a shop keeper in town who takes along her sixteen year old daughter with her to work during holidays.

"When I wake up, she also has to get out of bed. We always work together during the holidays,”

Uwamahoro says, adding that: "Even when it’s time to visit the farm, we visit it together.”

She explains: "Through this kind of training, she obtains both business and survival skills. At the end of the day she is the beneficiary as this saves her from engaging in useless activities.”

For most parents and educators, the crucial thing is to engage the students in activities that can avail them with skills.

Enrol for holiday programmes

In fact there are some firms that have realized the need for this kind of service and one of them is called Blue Tower Professionals. Based at Martin Plaza in Kimironko, they mostly train students in career guidance, ICT skills and other activities.

According to Valens Rutazihane, the firm’s proprietor, "We move to different schools and explain to them all the packages. The schools then engage the students and select those that would need the different services during holidays; then we contact their parents who register with us.”

There are different packages on offer, starting from Rwf15, 000 upwards.

The project has proved to be quite popular. Since its inception last year, over seventy parents have enrolled their children for the training.

Time for play must be created

However as the old adage says, work without play makes jack a dull boy. It is important to allow ample time for rest and leisure during the holidays.

Faustine Ndahamye, a teacher at Glory High School in Kigali advises parents to give students some rest during the holidays.

"Students already have a lot of work and exercises while at school so the holiday period is the only time they can take to cool off their brains, otherwise they will get fed up of books at an early stage.”

Ndahamye advises that students, especially those of young age, can go for picnics, visit their grandparents, or participate in kid’s extravaganzas. This creates further bonding for the children.” "They can also continue to revise at a slower rate,” she adds.

Judith Rwibutso, a student at Lycée Notre Dame, agrees that holiday is the only time they find rest."In holidays I do some chores at home. Sometimes I also go to the village to visit my relatives,” she explains, adding that she tries to ‘keep the spirit of reading’ throughout the period.

In the end, balance is the key: involve students in activities that will help them develop as individuals, but leave enough time for rest.

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How will your children spend the vacation?

Viateul Ndayisaba

There should be constant dialogue between the children and their parents. This will help the parents to identify their children’s interests and the necessary skills they need to equip them with. Children also need to know their relatives who stay far from them and the only way to do this is by taking them to their villages to visit and interact with people there.

Albert Habimana

I usually take my primary school-going children to the library to read because I want to keep their brains active. Children need to read motivational books to boost their vocabulary and develop a critical mind. And there is no better way to read such literature except when relaxed in holidays.

Thierry Mbarukiyimana

I don’t have a child but if I had one I would not tolerate laziness. I would send my child to different institutions to volunteer. That can help them learn various skills but at the same time accumulate working experience at a young age.

Terry Ngabire

I always try to read with my son during holidays. I look at his holiday package and go through it with him. This way, I can gauge where he is lacking and find a solution as soon as possible. It also helps us bond.

Adrien Afashimana

Children shouldn’t be handled like kings when they come home for holidays. They should instead be helped to find how challenging the world can be for lazy people. I normally take my young brothers to Nyamagabe every holiday where we engage in farming.

John Peter Nshimyumuremyi

Television and Internet play a big role in spoliling children especially if unmonitored. To avert that, I keep my children very busy such that by the time they settle down to watch television, I’ve either returned from work or about to leave office.

Compiled by Pontian Kabeera

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Parents debate how kids should spend holiday

How to make children spend their vacations usefully and enjoyably is a question that haunts many parents. Arab Times put this issue to vote in this week’s online survey, and parents seem to have many ideas.

Among the voters, a majority, 35%, favoured taking their children to their native places and allowing them to bond with their relatives. Fielding questions, respondents said that it’s the best thing they can give their children. "Most expatriate children grow up detached from their home and cultures.”

This phenomenon leads to grave crises in their adult lives as children do not know their relatives or the social etiquettes of dealing with extended family members. In some cases, children are even unable to speak their mother tongues well, influenced by alien cultures in foreign countries.

About 20% of the voters said that they would send their children for extra-curricular lessons like music or art, as it helps them both enjoy and develop. It is important to give children the exposure in a variety of fields. This will help them discover various facets of their own potentials. While in most cases these interests are no more than passing fads, ending with holidays, in some children they have prised out hidden talents.

Parents also felt that apart from talents, activities like these will allow children to develop other skills such as interpersonal skills, and cultivate values of sharing and mutual respect.

Some parents said they would prefer to give their children lessons in personality development because they fear that the new generation is incapable of handling pressure in life. "They buckle too easily, to the extent that children who fare poorly in exams contemplate suicide.”

The rate of suicides among youth is growing. 19 % of the voters said they would send their children for religious classes, which is also based on a concern for the lack of good values in children.

We are increasingly seeing children raised in nuclear families, with no siblings, respondents said. "This is leading to a situation where children are pampered and provided all their wants. They do not appreciate the value of things, and are hurt by rejections.”

These parents feel the need to acquaint their children with higher values in life, and the idea of humbling oneself in front of God.

About 13 % of the voters felt that it would be good to take children to new places. Respondents said nothing opens up the mind of children like travelling. It’s the best way to give them new experiences and make them accepting of the other. "While travelling, children also learn to adjust and accommodate, as you wouldn’t have all the comforts of home while you are on a journey.”

A small minority of voters supported the idea of keeping them occupied for a short time with studies. "This will keep them disciplined, and also prepared when schools reopen.”

Agencies