Kayonza parents request for boarding schools

Kayonza – Residents of Ndego Sector, Kayonza District, have appealed to the government to establish boarding schools in the area. According to parents, students are often left on their own as their parents are busy looking after cattle or engaged in other domestic chores. Michel Bikarebwaho, 56, a resident of Mwurire village, told The New Times that performance in day schools was poor generally. “Many parents would love to put their kids in boarding schools, but expensive private schools are the only option, which is beyond their financial capacity. If public schools can only charge an extra fee for boarding facilities, it would be within our financial reach,” he said. Dorothy Nyirabakungu, 45, complained that their children never get a chance to revise at home. She noted that some have to commute long distances, adding that the effect of fatigue affects their academic performance. “We don’t have power to allow children to read at night. Long distances too, account for the high failure rate in our schools,” she lamented. “We wouldn’t mind if we were told to pay something extra to turn some of the public primary and secondary schools into boarding schools”. John Mugabo, the Mayor of Kayonza District, said the parents’ concerns were valid, but cited the cost of running a boarding school as one of the major impediments. “The question is financing,” he explained. stephen.rwembeho@newtimes.co.rw

National

Kayonza parents request for boarding schools