More teachers could lose jobs for boycotting Itorero

More teachers who skipped a national civic education training (Itorero) conducted earlier in the year might lose their jobs. Early this week, authorities in Gicumbi district in Northern Province sacked over 100 teachers for reportedly refusing to participate in the training that saw over 40, 000 primary and secondary school teachers participate. These teachers will be disciplined for refusing to attend the training, a source from the Ministry of Education who spoke on condition of anonymity said Thursday. State Minister for Primary and Secondary education, Théoneste Mutsindashyaka could not confirm the impending move. On Thursday, he referred this reporter to Education Minister Daphrose Gahakwa. When contacted, Minister Gahakwa said that such matter falls under Mutsindashyaka’s docket. You should contact Minister Mutsindashyaka because this issue falls under his office, Gahakwa said on phone on Thursday. A knowledgeable source further stated that the ministry has already endorsed the sacking of all the teachers. By press time, the number of teachers to be sacked had not been established. Itorero is a Rwandan initiative that provides a forum for Rwandans in various social groups to discuss national unity, reconciliation and development issues. The decision to suspend them was reached by district officials. In an earlier interview, Mutsindashyaka said that people found to have refused to attend the teacher’s solidarity camp will face dire consequences. Mutsindashyaka noted that he had deployed people to investigate the matter and vowed that if it emerged that their refusal to attend was based on their religious beliefs, tough measures would be taken. It had been reported that hundreds of teachers refused to attend the camp on the basis that they were members of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The leadership of the organisation has distanced itself from the boycott saying that those who refused to attend did so on their own volition. Ends

National

More teachers could lose jobs for boycotting Itorero