SOUTHERN PROVINCE

HUYE — The State Minister in charge of Primary and Secondary Education, Theoneste Mutsindashyaka has called upon local leaders, educationalists and religious leaders to support the nine year basic education (9YBE) programme, which he said is central to the country’s development.

He said this while briefing provincial officials on the new developments in the education sector. These new developments include among others the 9YBE and the use of English as a medium of instruction.

Mutsindashyaka explained that the programme that kicked off this academic year is in line with the Government’s vision of developing the country’s human resource capacity. The programme is meant to reduce secondary school dropout rate.
"In the past, majority of the pupils who completed primary education never continued to secondary schools. The 9YBE programme is meant to address this shortfall,” he underscored.

Under the programme, schools will employ a double shift, reduce the number of subjects taught and teachers will specialise in particular subjects.

The Province has established more 222 schools to support the programme which according to Mutsindashyaka, will be expanded to provide education from kindergarten to high school level.

The Minister emphasised the need to promote vocational training that will not only enroll pupils who cannot continue in the formal education system, but also other professionals who want to learn new skills.

"Under the new Technical, Vocational education training programme, students in these training centres will be able to upgrade up to university level,” he added.

At the same meeting, he disclosed that the Kavumu Vocational Training centre located in the Southern Province will be upgraded to an integrated vocational training centre that will oversee other vocational training centres in the province.

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