The minister of education Dr. Eugène Mutimura has said that laxity and failure to implement government policies in the education sector as the reason behind the sacking of five senior officers from Rwanda Education Board (REB).

The cabinet meeting on Wednesday resolved to relieve of their duties five heads of department of REB.

They include Dr. Joyce Musabe who was Head of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Resources Department, Dr. Tusiime Rwibasira Michael, Head of Examinations, Selection and Assessment Department; and Peter Mujiji who was relieved of his duties as Head of Corporate Division.

Others are Francis Karegesa, the director of finance and Rutaha Bagaya, the head of procurement unit.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Mutimura said the officials in their respective dockets exhibited weaknesses at work and failed to implement government policies which he said was not tolerable.

"They have been heavily linked to anomalies in printing of senior six certificates that has unnecessarily taken long, wasteful spending through printing these certificates from outside from the country,” he said.

According to the minister, the delays to issue certificates have affected students wishing to pursue their students in higher learning institutions.

"Secondly, there are so many books around the country that have not been delivered to schools to facilitate implementation of the new school curriculum.

"This hindered the implementation of the competence-based examination this year, these staff and others are responsible and the government has taken the decision to relieve them of their duties,” he added

When contacted, Tusiime who until yesterday headed Examination Selection and Assessment Department said it was normal procedures and could not comment on the alleged weakness and other allegations to implement government policies.

Senior six leavers, especially those who want to join university studies in private universities have been finding it hard to immediately enroll in university or join workforce due to lack of certificates.

There were some cases where books that could have been distributed to schools to ease the implementation of competence based curriculum were not distributed on time but instead were seen in people's homes, according to officials.

Minister Mutimura said it remains a responsibility of judiciary to find out whether the allegations constitute a crime and follow up on the case.