Students from boarding schools will start heading to their respective schools on Friday, October 8, ahead of the academic year that is due to start Monday.

S.1 and S.4 students who recently got the results of their national examinations will start on October 18.

According to the school calendar, the first term will end Friday, December 24, and the students will then have a two-week holiday before returning to school on January 9, 2022.

This is going to be the first academic year to start in October, following changes by the Ministry of Education.

In order to respect Covid-19 guidelines, all students will take the buses provided for them from their respective picking points and not bus stations, according to a statement by National Examinations and School Inspection Authority (NESA).

"All parents are requested to respect the schedule and provide transport fare for their students, and students are urged to respect Covid-19 guidelines while going back to their schools” read the statement.

The transport exercise will be conducted from Friday to Monday, with the first batch of students to leave on Friday will be from the City of Kigali, who will take their buses from Kigali stadium, and students from Nyanza, Huye, Gisagara, Musanze, Burera, Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Rwamagana and Kayonza.

On Saturday they will be followed by students going to Nyaruguru, Nyamagabe, Gakenke, Karongi, Rutsiro, Gatsibo, and Nyagatare, and Sunday students will go to their respective schools in Ruhango, Gicumbi, Ngororero, Nyabihu, Kirehe and Ngoma.

The last group of boarding students will leave on Monday going to Kamonyi, Muhanga, Rulindo, Rubavu, and Bugesera.