FOCUS: A silent sigh of relief as students head back to school

When our children are away at boarding school, we dream of the day when they will be home again. When the right time to return home clocks at the end of the school term, we are excited even if home expenditure is likely to double. It’s our responsibility to feed them. We are not bothered with any costs or implications associated with their presence at home. All we long for is to see them home. Fine food is ordered to honour of their return. When they are back, businesses boom. Like Patrice Nkurunvune, who operates a bar and pool table says, during holidays students queue up to play pool while ordering for drinks from morning to evening. “My revenues from the eight balls table and drinks almost triple,” he explained. But while business owners lament the students’ departure, there are many who feel relieved. Married women can’t wait to have their husbands back, secure from the ‘insene’, (remember our article about the return of the grasshoppers?). Husbands can be expected home in time without any excuses of late meetings, visiting a friend and so on. According to Naomi, a newly married lady, the clothes and crafty character of young, charming, pretty girls on holiday make her nervous. “These features attract most men especially in the youthful age with the idea of ‘adventuring’,” she added. Many parents too can’t wait to see their children back to school, for varying reasons. Some are keen to get them back into education; others have grown concerned by their loitering. During holidays, many students are not at home all day and escape in the night in search of fun. If by any luck they are at home, they turn up the radio or bring friends over and generally make a mess. Faustin Tete, a mother of three, said: “Holidays give me enough precious time with my children as I rest while they help me do clean up some mess. However, it is necessary that they report back early enough for school in order to have a break with daily unnecessary demands of mum, I need this and that!” Parents are not the only ones relieved by the beginning of term time. Some students are also excited to get away from home where parents get hold of them 24/7. There are eager to be free again. Rumanzi, a senior two student at Sunrise High School in Ruhengeri district, says during term time students dream of going, some even feign illness, but when there parental rules turn you into ‘a slave’. “It’s with good intent but at times we as students also need some kind of freedom. Praise God, we are going back [to school] tomorrow,” he explained. We can expect some chaos as the roads once again are filled with commuting children. Traffic jams and packed buses will take over the city streets. eddiemukaaya@yahoo.com