Kigali City says it has identified serious environmental problems at the ADEPR-owned Gatenga II Primary School in Kicukiro District.

This was during a routine schools inspection on which city authorities have embarked with an aim of developing the education sector and put more efforts in the functioning of the schools.

Gatenga II primary school, opened in 2000, has its buildings mingled with the ADEPR Church properties in Gatenga, a fact that, according to Kicukiro District Mayor Paul Jules Ndamage, makes the school environmentally not conducive.

"The first impression we have of the school are so negative,” said Ndamage, citing the misplacement of the school and the lack of basic infrastructure at the first sight.

Apart from the lack of playgrounds for the students and a school fence and shortage of toilets, it was also identified that the school has no director, a factor that has contributed to the lack of organisation in the school.

None among the school managers were able to establish the exact number of their students and teachers, but they expressed their satisfaction about this year’s results for Primary Leaving Examinations.

Pastor Samson Mutwa, responsible for the school, could not deny the failure in his school management, but was quick to promise they are looking into the matter to solve it as soon as they can.

"We are only like sponsors... but we are trying to solve this issue and hope the government will help us out,” Pastor Mutwa said.

After expressing their dissatisfaction about the way the school is managed, the inspection group tasked the Director of Education in Kicukiro District, Mathias Sekigera, to prepare a "put right” plan and come up with appropriate recommendations to rebuild the school.

Sekigera said the most pressing issue is to come up with a strong administration and recruit enough and qualified teachers to boost the school’s performance. 

"Within three weeks, I hope the problem will be over,” he promised.

However, the inspection tour which was meant to explore issues of educational, managerial and hygienic situations in schools ended on a satisfactory note.

The inspection that kicked off yesterday sent six different groups to tour 24 Kigali City primary and secondary schools. The groups were made up of various City officials, directors and inspectors of education from all three districts.

Ends