The Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB) has cleared the air on the process of approving external teacher transfers through the Teachers Management Information System (TMIS) stating that all transfer requests are reviewed transparently and based on tangible considerations. Some teachers prefer schools located in districts and cities closer to family or other personal reasons, which may lead them to request transfers. However, not all requests are approved, leading to claims of unfairness. ALSO READ: Teachers call for action on crowded classrooms, salaries and training gaps The issue was among many discussed on July 31, during National Dialogue with Teachers, an annual forum that brought together teacher representatives from across the country for direct discussions with the Ministry of Education and its affiliated institutions. For example, Gasabo District received the highest number of external transfer requests, with 272 teachers asking to move there in the 2024/25 academic year, while Nyagatare had the lowest number, with only 10 teachers requesting to transfer to the district, according to Rose Baguma, Head of the Education Policy Department at the Ministry of Education. Rusizi District had the highest number of teachers, 132, requesting to transfer out, while Kicukiro had the lowest, with only 18 teachers requesting to move from the district. On the approvals, for example, only 73 out of the 272 teachers who requested to move to Gasabo District were approved, meaning less than a third of the requests were granted. “They should know that the approvals are fair. No corruption. Nothing else. Tangible reasons are considered, and the system is transparent,” argued Léon Mugenzi, Head of the Teacher Development and Management Department at REB. Mugenzi explained that every teacher is allowed to request a transfer every three years, and that reasons such as marital status, gender (with female teachers prioritized), and health conditions, such as disability, are given priority. “Married individuals are prioritized over single ones, and people with disabilities are favoured for placement in environments that meet their needs,” the official explained. “I understand that seeking a transfer due to personal circumstances may happen. However, not getting approval should not be a reason for poor performance, consistent absenteeism, or discouragement. Teachers need to be content with where they are assigned to work. The system is transparent,” he added. ALSO READ: World Teachers' Day: Rwandan teachers speak about passion, challenges Rwanda currently has more than 120,000 teachers nationwide, according to the Ministry of Education. In the 2024/2025 academic year alone, 7,277 new teachers were recruited. ALSO READ: What’s behind growing demand for teachers in Rwanda? Adeline Musinda, a teacher of Mathematics and English at Groupe Scolaire Mukarange Catholic in Kayonza District, is among those who transferred from Bugesera District due to family reasons. She is married and wanted to be closer to her family, a situation that had affected her performance. “It was a hard time for me because I wasn’t close to them. I wanted to transfer since a stable family requires both partners to be together. After submitting my transfer request, it was approved because I had tangible reasons,” she said. Musinda affirmed that working far from family can negatively impact performance, as teachers may spend a lot of time worrying about their children and spouses.
