Teachers in Rwanda will today join their counterparts across the world to celebrate the United Nations World Teachers’ Day. According to a statement from the Ministry of Education, the day will be celebrated at the sector level, where teachers from their respective schools across the 416 sectors in the country, will join with other officials to celebrate achievements over the past year. It will also be characterised by awarding of outstanding teachers with cows and computers. Over the past years, the government has put in place several initiatives geared at improving teachers’ welfare and, according to the statement, government remains committed to that initiative. Available statistics indicate that, by last year, 30,281 teachers had acquired houses through Teachers’ Savings and Credit Co-operatives (Umwarimu SACCO), while 1,200 teachers benefited from Girinka-Mwalimu and were encouraged to pass on the heifers to their colleagues whenever the donated cows deliver. And a total of 416 staff quarters, each with capacity to accommodate eight teachers, were also constructed countrywide. During last year’s Teacher’s Day, celebrations, the state minister in charge of primary and secondary education, Olivier Rwamukwaya, called on teachers to strive for quality education saying it was key to sustainable development. Rwanda is celebrating the Teachers’ Day for the 15th. According to UNESCO, World Teachers’ Day represents a significant token of awareness, understanding and appreciation displayed for the vital contributions that teachers make to education and development. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
