The Minister of Education urged schools to avoid any form of school fees increase by the time schools reopen. This was said by Valentine Uwamariya, the Minister of Education while addressing the press on Friday, October 2. The event was also attended by Ministers of Health, Local Government, and Trade and Commerce, and the Rwanda National Police to inform the public on the state of the Covid-19 in Rwanda. The decision to reopen schools was taken last week by the government, and according to the ministry, universities and higher learning institutions will be the first ones to resume studies mid this month. The halting of schools in mid-March was in bid to contain the pandemic in the country. Meanwhile, all schools that will reopen will be required to adhere to Covid-19 preventive measures, which raises concerns that the cost of implementing healthy guidelines might be added to school fees. Allaying the concern, Uwamariya noted that no school should increase school fees anyhow. She said: “We are aware that some schools may increase the school fees saying that it is in line with getting enough funds to implement Covid-19 measures, which is not right. Schools should remember that parents were also adversely affected by the pandemic financially.” “Mineduc and other stakeholders will work together to make sure that that does not happen anywhere,” she added. However, the Minister noted that this should not stop parents with means to willingly help schools financially, where necessary, so that their children will be safe while studying. Nonetheless, she said, this should not be considered as school fees, but instead, a support by parents, which may end at a given period of time when the health guidelines are implemented. Uwamariya also explained that students should not be required to pay fees again for a given term, if they had already paid the fees for that term before the closure of schools. Covid-19 preventive measures to adhere to According to the Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije, there are some health guidelines already issued to schools to make sure that the school reopening will not lead to the spread of Covid-19 among students or teachers. Among the measures, he said, include wearing of face masks, temperature screening, and washing facilities that should be available at every school. Uwamariya also highlighted that every school will be required to have at least two rooms which may be used to accommodate a student suspected of Covid-19.
