Service lays-off 600 for lack of qualifications

Dozens of cadet prison wardens who have been unemployed for over a year will soon be deployed as reforms within the National Prisons Services (NPS) continue.

This was revealed yesterday by the Minister of Internal Security, Musa Fazil Harelimana, who said that the reforms in the service were part of the ongoing overhaul in the public service.

Speaking to The New Times on phone yesterday, Harelimana said that the reforms which also affected prisons in the country, created spaces for the experienced and qualified cadets who have been jobless for over a year.
About 180 prison cadets completed their course last year but only a few of them were deployed.

"These cadets are deployed according to their qualifications. We were still studying where they can fit and work well with their credentials,” Harelimana said.

He however, said those who were qualified in the fields of engineering, social science and management were employed, as there were vacant positions at the time of their pass out.

"But we now have vacant positions in the fields of agriculture, most especially in TIG (Works for General Interest), and those who are qualified in this field will soon be deployed,” he said.

TIG is community work carried out by convicts who confessed their role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi as an alternative to imprisonment.

"But there should be no more worry because these reforms will leave all of them deployed,” added the minister.
Meanwhile, about 600 prison wardens have been laid off since July when the reforms kicked off for lack of qualifications and being beyond the age limit.

A warden with the lowest rank (Private), is supposed to have at least completed Ordinary Level and has to be less than 45 years of age, while senior wardens from the rank of corporal to sergeant are required to hold an Advanced Level certificate but with less than 50 years of age.

However, all other officers above the rank of sergeant are required to hold a bachelors degree.

There are now close to 900 prison wardens across the country.

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