EVERY Wednesday and Saturday afternoon, Callixte Gashugi carries his sewing machine to Ndera Minor Seminary in Gasabo district, city of Kigali to sew torn clothes of students. "Whenever I come, I make a minimum of Rwf3,000 which is a good deal,” says the tailor in his late fifties.

When Education Times visited the school last Saturday, Gashugi was surrounded by many students bargaining for a cheap service. "You will pay me only Rwf 300 and that’s the last price,” Gashugi tells one of the students who wanted a turn-up on his pair of trousers.

Inside the room, other students are queuing for a haircut, also from a visiting barber, while others are waiting for the cobbler who also comes twice a week. 

This arrangement is part of the school’s broader strategy to make the school environment conducive for the learners. 

A school environment including the classrooms, libraries, laboratories, teachers’ quality, school management and teaching methods affect students’ academic achievement.

The school environment remains an important area that can enhance students’ academic performance if managed well. Education experts argue that the quality of education not only depends on the teachers as reflected in the performance of their duties, but also in the effective coordination of the school environment.

"Our school leadership cares a lot about our performance, so they ensure we have all the services we need in the school to concentrate. When we go out for any of these services, we are charged much more money but also waste a lot of our precious time,” says Ernest Uzayisenga, a Senior Two student.

Fr. Jean Bosco Ntagungira, the rector of the school, says it is very important for students to get good services. 

"When we give them these services, they feel at home and want to stay at school, it makes the school environment conducive and thus enhances performance,” Ntagungira notes.

The priest adds that besides the above services, the school has a kiosk that sells notebooks, pens, toothpaste and soap among other items. 

Fr. Ntagungira also says the school also has a public phone to enable students call home since students are not allowed to carry mobile phones to school.

Conscious that students are teenagers who love leisure and entertainment, the school dedicates the weekend to games like football and watching movies, dancing and drama among other activities. 

"The school does all it takes to make the school environment conducive,” said Irené Shami, a Senior Five student who is also the deputy head boy.

Health care 

Ndera Seminary also values the students’ health. The school has a clinic with five beds and students are trained in basics of giving first aid. Last year, the school sent ten students for training in handling emergencies. The training was conducted by the Red Cross. On rotational basis, the trained students sit in the clinic in the evening to give a hand.

"We can handle minor injuries,” said Divin Manzi, a Senior Two student.

When a sick student is unable to return to class, he stays in the clinic and is fed on a special diet. According to Manzi, when the case is a bit complicated, the sick student is transferred to the nearest Ndera health centre for special attention.  

In some schools however, students have to struggle on their own when they have a health problem.

For instance in GS Rugando, a twelve year basic education (12YBE) school, Chantal Iradukunda, 15, a Primary Six pupil was weeping when The Education Times visited her school a few days ago.

Iradukunda, who suffers from Epilepsy and gets attacks at least twice a week, says her school lacks the necessary facilities to deal with such cases. She said when she got an attack last Wednesday; she was not given any special attention. She only found classmates surrounding her when she recovered one hour later.

"We have no capacity to handle such cases. When it happens to her (Iradukunda), we send her back home,” said Francois Ndikubwimana, the school principal. 

The school, which has also registered cases of pregnancies, has no special meals for expecting students. Instead, they encourage the pregnant students to carry food for themselves.

Phoibe Murekeyisoni, 20, an expectant mother and Senior Six student, informed the school that she was pregnant in March and since then; she was given special permission not to wear uniform but she caters for her feeding.  

"I carry juice and fruits which I take at break time. The director of studies gave me her phone number so that when I feel uncomfortable I can communicate and they let me go home,” Murekeyisoni explains.

However a 16-year-old Senior Two student who delivered last year suffered at school because she had tried to conceal her pregnancy from the school authorities. The student who preferred anonymity says she was always late for school because of her situation and it earned her constant punishment from teachers. 

She opened up when she was left with just two months to deliver but got little help from the school.   "The only thing they allowed me was carrying my own food,” said the young mother.

Government speaks out

According to Janvier Gasana, the deputy director in charge of quality at Rwanda Education Board (REB), "schools have to make sure that a student does not struggle to obtain a service while at school.”

He said in case a student is pregnant, teachers should make sure that she goes for antenatal tests, eats well and gets time off from school if need be. Gasana adds that schools should also provide other necessities such as a "girl’s room”, commonly known as Icyumba cy’Umukobwa. Mandatory in any primary and secondary school, the facility consists of a room equipped with sanitary pads, and other   facilities to help a girl during menstruation. 

Gasana also advises schools to provide basic health facilities and in case of complicated health issues, the student should be rushed to the nearest health clinic when necessary. He says every school should  endeavour to have power, decent playgrounds and laundry services because when combined with good teaching, they produce quality students.

The biggest challenge in schools currently is the lack of lunch especially in Twelve Year Basic Education Programme (12YBE), leading to absence from class by some students. However, according to Gasana, the government plans to implement a sustainable school feeding programme.  "The parents’ contribution will be paramount,” Gasana says. 

Facilities vs performance

As early as 1992, positive correlations were found between school facilities that were rated excellent and students earning higher test scores. In Washington D.C., the average difference in test scores was 10.9 percent between students in schools that were rated "excellent” and students in schools that were rated "poor,” according to a Georgetown University graduate thesis.

Research indicates that quality learning environments also positively affect student attendance, teacher retention, and graduation rates. 

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WHAT FACILITY MUST EVERY SCHOOL HAVE?

Christian Hatangimana, a student at Efoteck in Nyarugunga Schools should have a well stocked canteen with all sorts of edibles. Some students do not like posho yet it is the basic food prepared for students. As a result, some students stay hungry which affects their performance. Before they put anything else in place, schools should have a canteen that is fully stocked. 

Martin Bataringaya, a graduateA well stocked library surpasses all the other facilities.Yes, we need food and entertainment but our cardinal aim of going to school is a cademics.Let’s first avail schools with so many text books to facilitate research and other things will follow.

Adrian Mutabazi, student at College Ami des EnfantsSchools should have entertainment facilities in place because work without play makes Jack a dull boy. They should provide television screens, DVD players and other music, dance and drama facilities. Such facilities help students discover their hidden talents.

Marie Uwitonze, a S.6 vacistI only feel comfortable after I have talked to my parents. It does not matter whether I have something to eat or not. Therefore, all schools should either allow students to take phones to school or provide a phone booth. 

Theoneste Iradukunda, a student at G.S Remera ProtestantSchools should have a well equipped infirmary because students health is paramount. Once the infirmary is well stocked with medicine and trained medical officers, the students health will be guaranteed hence better performance in class.