Editor,

I have heard of several cases  of students who reported for the first term last Monday,  uncertain whether they had been promoted or not.

This is because their third term report cards had been withheld either for failure to clear school fees, or their teachers were disgruntled after the school administration had failed to pay their salaries.

The most recent report was in Musanze district, where authorities eventually closed ACETI Imanzi Secondary School for lack of basic infrastructure and teachers.
Much as teachers need to be paid their salaries, they should not withhold students’ report cards on account of their salary arrears.

The students are innocent, especially when they have cleared their fees. The education authorities, in liaison with local leaders, should ensure that schools’ financial woes do not inconvenience the students.

Liz Ingabire
Concerned parent