Quality education is crucial for development and concerned institutions should fix the problems hampering its development to ensure learners acquire necessary knowledge and contribute to a bright future of the country.

This was said by members of civil society platform in Gakenke during a meeting with local leaders to discuss challenges faced by education stakeholders in the district, and chart a common ground for tackling them.

Members of the civil society said, while the progress was made in promoting Education for All, there were still challenges hampering the programme such as lack of infrastructure where students make long distances to get to school which results into drop out for many.

Also cited was lack of access to electricity, which has derailed other initiatives like rollout of computers.

Out of the over 100 schools (primary and secondary) in Gakenke, only 19 have computers and besides denying the children the opportunity that comes with technology, the teachers cannot conduct research.

They also noted challenges in implementing school feeding programme in various schools of Nine- and 12-Year Basic Education programmes where some children have access to food while others are left out during lunch time. The programme’s coverage in the district stands at 47 per cent.

Jean de Dieu Uwineza, the vice chairperson of civil society platform in Gakenke, said it was time for concerned institutions to put in more efforts and ensure that quality education is achieved at whatever the cost.

"Quality education should be sought by each concerned party, from local leaders to the private sector, we want to encourage them to work together to look for solutions to the problems that still affect education,” said Uwineza.

Jean Bosco Hakizimana, the district education officer, admitted Gakenke was facing the challenges raised by civil society, adding that they are working together with parents as well as the Ministry of Education to solve the problems.

Hakizimana added that there was need to build more classrooms to ease the burden on the children who have to travel long distance and to luring dropouts back to school.

He said they are encouraging more parents to participate in some programmes such as school feeding.

"We have decided that each parent should pay Rwf10,000 per term to have their children fed at school, we also encouraged those who have no means to contribute food items, especially non-perishable foodstuff so that no child is left out during lunch time,” Hakizimana said.

He added that they are working hard to increase the number of classrooms to ensure that no more students walk a long distance.

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