For many parents, the reason to send their children to a boarding or day school varies. In most cases, some prefer sending learners to an environment where they will be comfortable and able to learn with no distractions.

However, educationists believe that boarding and day schools offer different settings for learners to mature.  Both have their strong points, and it’s not a case of one being better than the other.

Making the right choice

Dr Opiyo Andala, the dean of School of Education at Mount Kenya University, Kigali, says that in boarding school, learners are united with others from different families.

He explains that here, students learn to socialise and share their experiences, regardless of their background.

"In a multi-ethnic society, boarding school provides an avenue for learners to appreciate other ethnic groups and learn different cultures,” he says.

Andala says that in this setting, learning might be easier, regarding ‘recovering lost lessons’. He says lessons lost may be due to a teacher’s absence or national holidays. In boarding school, prep time (evening studies) is offered and can be used to recover lost time.

"In boarding school, learners are supervised during prep time by the teachers on duty, which improves the quality of revision time. Uniformity of what is offered to learners in boarding school is another advantage,” he adds.

Isaac Ddumba at La Colombiere School in Kigali says that the order should be day school first, then boarding.

He says these two choices depend on the age of the scholar, noting that he would prefer having early learners (say from age three to eight which is nursery to lower primary) going to a day school near home.

"At this age, the child’s development and growth is critical and needs constant follow-up by the parent or guardian. Teachers at boarding schools with children aged three to eight may not give each child 100 per cent of their attention, given the number of pupils in the facility,” he says.

Ddumba points out that most parents have an average of three to four kids which is manageable, adding that, a well-balanced diet and plenty of sleep will boost their development.

He adds that a child starting boarding school in P4 is okay as that is not a bad time to introduce self-reliance to a child.

What to offer

Sam Ogawng, an English and literature teacher at Mother Mary Complex School in Kibagabaga,  says because students in boarding school spend a long time away from home and much more time with their teachers, it’s the latter’s responsibility to take over as parents. 

They should ensure that such students are independent. And because they are around other students more often, unlike those who go to day school, teachers should make sure they produce students who are socially and academically strong.

He says that learners in boarding school should be better prepared to take responsibility for themselves when they venture into the real world as adults.

Academically, he says boarding schools should produce very good results because they have more time with students and can easily arrange extra tuition as exams approach. 

Ogawn is quick to point out that day schools can also produce good results because the achievement of students in examinations depends more on the quality of the teaching than on the type of school.  Good teachers get great results.

What to consider

Before a parent decides whether to put their child in a boarding or day school, experts say they should first put some things into consideration.

For instance, Lillian Mbabazi, a teacher at Little Angels in Kicukiro, Kigali, who doubles as a Sunday school teacher, believes that in a day school, parents find time for their children and teach them how to go about some challenges right from homework to more.

She adds that parents who spend more time at work  have no option but to send  scholars to boarding school, to give them a chance to work without interruption.

"If a child joins a boarding school at the right age, it helps them learn to socialise with others and be respectful, but a child in a day school may be spoiled by big brothers and sisters at home so enlightening them might be a little more difficult,” she says.

As a parent and teacher who wants to follow up children’s development, Ddumba thinks the early years of children should be in a day school and later, they can join boarding school.

However, he notes that these days, there are boarding schools that permit parents to pick children over the weekend, and during long public holiday breaks. This, he says, would be ideal for all boarding schools to adopt.

He says that age and physical form of a child also matter when deciding on taking a child to a day or boarding school.

Day school

Andala says that in day school, the issue of homework supervision is a big challenge. He says in most cases, absentee parents come home late after work or may not have the basic academic qualifications to supervise the child’s work.

This, he says, can disrupt learning.

Andala notes that day scholars lack the social environment since one could be an only child in the family. Additionally, he says children from vulnerable families may not eat well, or often, enough depending on the shortage level.

Edmond Ndagijimana, a parent from Kicukiro, says day schools are the right choice for most parents. 

Parents get to be close to their children and this gives them the opportunity to spend time with them, something that parents with children in boarding school lack.

"Children always at home with their parents, brothers and sisters build a strong bond with the family. Parents are always at hand to look after their children, monitor their development, and encourage and support them when problems arise,” he says. 

He notes that while in day school, parents are also in control of the values they want to instil in their children.

What they say

Jack Isimbi, Parent/human resource manager I think boarding school is far much better than day school, reason being that students are able to get enough time for their studies. In day school, students have many distractions. ------

Juliet Madagamire, Mother of three It’s hard to know as a parent the best learning environment for your child without testing both first. I think parents should first assess their children before they make any decisions to place them in either boarding or day school. -------

Jean Paul Habimana, Parent As parents, when a child is in boarding school, it gives us time to concentrate on looking for money, seeing as the child has been provided with all that is required. However, considering the age one is taken to boarding school is important. ------

Fred Muhire, Kigali resident Depending of the financial status of a parent, I think putting a student in a boarding school, especially if they are old enough, is important. However, finding out how they are doing often is important.

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