RUSIZI - Teachers of Ntenyi Primary School in Rwimbogo Sector, Rusizi District yesterday pledged to play a more practical role in stemming out Genocide ideology in schools.
They made the vow after visiting Murambi Genocide Memorial site in Nyamagabe District.

The teachers also pledged to act as agents of positive change in the community and rally the youth, especially students, behind development projects.

At the memorial, the teachers were briefed about the terrible history that led to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis.

Alphonsine Nyirampakaniye, the school’s head teacher said the visit to the memorial was timely.

"We are opinion leaders who encounter different situations. We also teach subjects like History and visiting the memorial site gives a clear picture of what happened and why we should fight against it among our youth and the community,” said Nyirampakaniye.

Philipe Ngirente, in charge of social affairs at Rwimbogo Sector, stressed the importance of visiting memorial sites, saying teachers are educators who should be knowledgeable of what happened in the country. He appealed to other schools in the district to visit Murambi memorial site.

One of the teachers, Ladislas Hategekimana said, "Many times teachers don’t give much attention to Genocide ideology without firsthand knowledge. Seeing the reality of what happened has caused an impact that will compel us to teach more against ideology.”

The teachers later visited the Rwandan Museum in Nyanza. Ntenyi is one of the oldest schools in Rusizi having been opened in 1962.

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