WESTERN PROVINCE

KARONGI — Teachers in the country have been advised to support work and promote it to enhance development.
The advice was sounded on Sunday, during celebrations to mark the International Teachers’ Day.

This year’s celebrations were held under the theme, "Supporting work as source of development.”

The national celebrations were held in Murundi Sector, Karongi District-organised by the association of primary teachers in the country known by its French acronym as (SNEP).

SNEP stands for Sindicat Nationale des enseignants du primaire which is in collaboration with Action Aid , Rwanda.

In his welcome remarks, SNEP president, Narcisse Kayiranga highlighted the role of teachers in building the country, saying more efforts should be put in place to uplift teachers’ welfare.

"The day we are celebrating should be a foundationfor our sustainable improvement. Teachers being the engine of knowledge and wisdom, more support is needed to help them,” he said. He called on the government and other international donors to join hands to this effect.

Tito Kanyankore, a representative from the Ministry of Labour and Public service said that since July this year, all teachers’ salaries were decentralised from the Ministry level to the Districts.

Kanyankore acknowledged that teachers’ remuneration was still low compared to their work but said the government was committed to improving their welfare.

"We know very well that teachers’ rewards are not enough compared to productive services they offer. But the government is working on this to see that there is an improvement,” he said.

The mayor of Karongi District, Bernard Kayumba, and the heads of military and police in the district also attended the ceremony. The teachers commended Action Aid Rwanda for its continuous towards Rwanda’s education sector.

At Sanza Primary School, that hosted the ceremony, Action Aid built fully furnished three classroom blocks and donated other scholastic materials.

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