Better educational standards needed

Fresh from a special day set aside to recognise the labour of millions throughout the world, Rwandans should also do well to reflect on the affairs of their schools as well as children who have just returned to another term of their own version of toil.

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Fresh from a special day set aside to recognise the labour of millions throughout the world, Rwandans should also do well to reflect on the affairs of their schools as well as children who have just returned to another term of their own version of toil.

Among many things to consider is the welfare of our children at the schools where we entrusted the authorities there for their academic and social wellbeing.

This call comes when there has been a horrendous fire that gutted a dormitory and burnt 20 children to death at a boarding school in neighbouring Uganda.

Members of Parliament should take time off and not only look into the issue of genocide ideology in the schools they visit, but also check out the school facilities and other such affairs that might either promote or jeopardise our children’s learning. And so should parents.

One of the most integral units in the Ministry of Education is that of the inspectorate, known as the Inspectorate General of Education.

This Inspectorate that is charged with overseeing education standards in Rwandan institutions of learning as laid down in the country’s laws, has to keep on its toes to keep monitoring these institutions as discussed above.

The strength or otherwise of this particular arm of the Education ministry can make or break a country depending on its dynamism.

It should be remembered that there were loud murmurs about the number of passes last academic year, and the quality of examinations set.

This write up is not condemning anyone; rather, it is urging the responsible people, including teachers and their head supervisors, to make a huge difference.

This is a country that is no longer living in isolation; it is now set against other players in the regional community, so it is not an idle reminder to all the people in charge of our future generation to make every single child in school count and acquit themselves well in matters academic.

Ends