KIGALI - The Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Mathias Harebamungu, has said the stage is being set for the World Teachers Day slated for this Monday.

Harebamungu said that his Ministry is preparing to hold a National event at La Pallisse, Nyandungu. Smaller events will also be held at Sector level across the country.

"The message of the day calls for teachers to love their work, develop a culture of research and to focus on the quality of education by also fostering good relations with parents’ associations,” he said.

"We are also calling on teachers to encourage the spirit of courage, determination, hardwork and the pride of being Rwandan amongst their students and pupils.”

This year’s theme is dubbed "Build the Future: Invest in Teachers Now”.

Dr.Harebamungu noted that the Teachers Day celebrations will culminate the ongoing Teachers’ Week that has seen teachers hold debates to discuss their work, daily lives, and challenges with an aim of improving their profession.

According to the minister, the Monday event aimed at celebrating the teaching profession will see that esteemed teachers from across the country are recognized and awarded.

"We had earlier asked districts to forward names of the best performing primary and secondary schools teachers. 30 teachers were nominated, from these the best three will be selected as the top performers.”

Dr.Harebamungu noted that, courtesy of his ministry, all the 30 nominees will each be given a laptop. In addition to this the top three teachers will receive cash prizes amounting to RWF 300,000; 200,000 and 100,000 respectively.

The event that will attract educators from all levels, will also honour best performers from the recently completed secondary school teachers’ science competition.

"The winners of the ongoing science competition will also be honoured on this day.

All participating teachers have been asked to present a research project using local materials from the environment. This will challenge teachers to develop a culture of research”.

He added that all 30 science fair finalists will also receive laptops and the top five winners will also receive cash prizes.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has also pledged to award the top winners with dictionaries in Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology.

UNESCO designated October 5 as World Teachers’ Day in 1993. This day represents the appreciation attached to the vital contribution that teachers make to education and development.

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