Police in Gicumbi District are holding three teachers suspected of inciting Monday’s protests by students in the district. More than 500 students from Groupe Scolaire de Kageyo in Gicumbi District Monday went on strike over the resignation of their teachers. The students pelted the school buildings with stones and broke some windows before turning their fury on anyone who tried to restrain them. Police in Gicumbi had to fire some shots in the air to disperse the rowdy students, according to witnesses. Those arrested are among those who resigned from their jobs recently over pay dispute. Inspector of Police Innocent Gasasira, the Northern Province Regional Police spokesperson, said the arrests came after preliminary investigations showed that some teachers were behind the protests adding that they were the ones who mobilized students. “The arrested will be charged with organizing and inciting unauthorised protests, which is against the law,” he said. The identities of those arrested had not been released by press time. Gihembe Refugee Camp School used to have 17 teachers but it was later merged with Kageyo School with the teachers subsequently being transferred there. The teachers continued to teach at the new school, after they were reportedly promised a pay rise, but when the promise was not forthcoming they resigned, arguing they could not continue working for “peanuts.” Anastase Kamikunze, the head teacher of the school, said studies had resumed and some students reported to school as usual. He added the school, police and local leaders held a meeting with the students and counseled them, reassuring them that the new teachers will provide quality education. “We realised that some former teachers incited the protest as students rejected new teachers before they could even assess their performance,” he added. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
