Senate endorses education board

KIGALI - The Senate yesterday unanimously approved a bill establishing the Rwanda Education Board (REB) after deliberations on the structures that will make up the organ. The draft law establishing REB had initially been scrutinized and approved by the Lower Chamber in June. Presenting the amended bill to the House, the chairperson of the Senatorial Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Human Rights and Petitions, Senator Agnes Kayijire said that the initial bill that came from the lower chamber had 41 articles, which were scaled down to 24. Some of the details of the bill presented include the range within which the board can operate. According to the Senator, the bill only establishes the board of REB and its management since other structures and functions are determined by the Prime Minister’s decree that sets up the duties and structures of all government entities. The Lower Chamber of parliament had initially set up a board made of nine members including the chairperson but the senate scaled this down to seven. REB will be charged with following up the nation’s education policy, ensuring education for all, reinforcing technology based education and quality education, and all other duties related to education. According to the bill, REB will have to be functional within a period not less than one year from the date of its publication in the official Gazette. The organs that will be amalgamated into new body include; the Rwanda National Examination Council (RNEC), the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), the Students Financing Agency (SFAR) and the National Inspectorate of Schools. The bill that establishes REB also nullifies all the laws that set up the merged agencies and their properties will automatically belong to REB. Ends