All schools in the country, including universities, reopen on February 23, following a decision taken by the cabinet last week. This is the first time the government is fully reopening doors to all learners since last year in March when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country. Schools among other mass gatherings were halted to fight the virus. Previously, schools were reopened in phases except for pre-primary and lower primary (P1-P3) classes, which have remained closed for 11 months as the government encouraged homeschooling. Now, as all schools reopen in the midst of easing Covid-19 cases, these are the five things you should know 1. Public transporters to prioritise students The reopening of schools comes at a time public transport buses are only allowed to operate at 75 per cent of their passenger capacity. This is one of the measures aimed to strengthen the fight against the virus. The government has thus engaged bus operators to prioritise students. “Students should not be worried. They are just asked to make it at the bus stations on time and they will be given priority.” 2. Pre-primary, lower primary academic year extended The academic year for both pre-primary and lower pupils has been extended, according to the Minister of Education, Valentine Uwamariya Uwamariya said that students in the above-mentioned categories are expected to complete their academic year late September this year, while others will wrap up the year in July, two months earlier. “This is because they will start from the first term, while students in the upper classes started from the second term when schools reopened,” she explained. 3. Appeal to parents to pay school fees According to Uwamariya, only 60 per cent of the parents have fully paid school fees for their children. This, she said, is making it difficult for schools to delivery services. “It is true that people have been affected by the pandemic, but parents also need to understand that these schools need funds to operate,” the minister said. Uwamariya also gave a stern warning to some schools which have deliberately increased school fees. “It’s not entirely the parents’ fault. We have cases where schools are increasing school fees to abnormal levels. This demotivates parents. We ask schools to not increase fees.” The government has allocated support to public schools, she disclosed. “We believe that if parents comply and pay the normal fees, together with the support the government has rendered to these schools, activities will be smooth.” 4. Construction of new classrooms at 92 per cent Speaking about the ongoing construction of 22,500 classrooms, the Minister noted that it is now 92 per cent complete. “The City of Kigali is still lagging behind and that is mainly due to the high cost of land compared to other parts of the country. But we have resolved to construct storied blocks.” In addition, “there are other challenges encountered such as delay in the purchase of school equipment like glass windows, tables, desks among others, but everything is now being worked on.” 5. New law to curb school dropout Minister Uwamariya also pointed out that a new law governing education has been gazetted to reduce the number of children that dropout of school. Under the legislation, parents who deliberately refuse to send their children to school, as well as people who employ minors, will be punished. These twin problems, she said, were threatening the country’s education system and its future human resource. The ministry says it will sensitise the public about the new law. “The Rwandan constitution states that all children have the right to education. Parents are therefore called upon to send their children to school, and this is compulsory,” Uwamariya said.
