Teachers have been challenged to take advantage of available resources to enhance the quality of education in the country.

Speaking at the World Teachers’ Day celebrations at Kimisagara One-Stop Employment Centre in Kigali, yesterday, the State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Olivier Rwamukwaya, called on teachers to strive for quality education as key to sustainable development of the country.

Teachers’ Day was marked at the sector level across the country under the theme, "Empowering teachers, building sustainable society.”

"Rwanda recognises the crucial role that teachers play in nation building and shaping country’s future. Teachers are a source of knowledge. Today is your day to sit down and reflect on your contribution to the country. There are several policies geared at improving teachers’ welfare and the government remains committed to that,” Rwamukwaya said.

Highlighting achievements in line with improving teachers’ welfare in the recent past, the event noted that 30,281 teachers got housing through Teachers’ Savings and Credit Co-operatives (Umwarimu SACCO), while 1,102 teachers benefited from Girinka-Mwalimu, where a teacher from a sector across the country gets a cow, he said.

And a total of 416 staff quarters each with capacity to accommodate eight teachers were constructed countrywide.

"We now appreciate that teachers get their salary on time,” the minister said.

He called on parents to closely collaborate with teachers in the learning process by following up on discipline and academic performance of their children.

Speaking to The New Times, several teachers said despite the significant improvement in education and their welfare, some challenges remain.

"With a meagre salary and no collateral, it is difficult accessing reasonable loan from Umwalimu SACCO,” Alex Nkomeje, who spoke on behalf of teachers in Nyarugenge District, said.

Simon Mbonimpaye, a teacher at GS Buteri in Bugesera District, said World Teachers’ Day is an opportunity to educators to rethink about their profession.

Judith Mukamurigo, the head teacher of Kinunga Primary School in Kicukiro District, said the day serves as an occasion to evaluate their work and forge a way forward.