The Ministry of Education has clarified on the just-announced review in teachers’ salaries and the implication of the rise in the remuneration of teachers in primary and secondary schools.

The salary increase was announced by Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente, who said the move is expected to minimise the turnover of teachers in public schools and improve quality of education.

Addressing a joint parliamentary session on Monday, August 1, the premier announced that primary teachers would get up to 88 per cent in salary increase effective this month.

According to the Minister for Education, Valentine Uwamariya, only primary school teachers with A2 certificates will get the 88 per cent pay rise.

That means a primary teacher will receive a net pay of Rwf108,488 up from Rwf57,639. 

In the same light, she pointed out that the government will also increase salaries for teachers with an A1 certificate from Rwf136,895 to Rwf191,811, representing a 40 per cent increase.

For degree (A0) holders (most of them are secondary school teachers), Minister Uwamariya said they will now receive Rwf246,384 up from Rwf176,189. 

She highlighted that the government also revised salaries of head teachers, deans, as well as supporting staff. 

As well as injecting Rwf5 billion into Umwalimu Sacco, the teachers’ savings cooperative, to help increase access to finance, Uwamariya said that secondary school head teachers (including in TVET centres) will receive Rwf314,850 in monthly pay, while their primary school counterparts will receive Rwf152,525 up from Rwf101,681. 

Both deans of students and discipline in public schools, depending on whether they hold A0, A1, A2 qualifications, will also see an increase of up to Rwf283,656, Rwf163,506, Rwf97,826, respectively.

"It is not just about arise in payment, but we are looking at it as a way of creating a conducive environment for teachers who have long been unstable in this profession,” she told the national broadcaster. 

Prime Minister Ngirente said that up to 1000 teachers were leaving the profession every month to seek greener pastures elsewhere.

However, Uwamariya sounded optimistic that the latest developments will help reverse the trend, in addition to improving teachers' welfare. 

"When a teacher’s welfare improves, they tend to attend to their classes seamlessly and lessons are delivered according to schedule. This will also boost our quality of education.”