NORTHERN PROVINCE

Teachers who deliberately missed the ongoing solidarity training commonly referred to as Itorero, are to lose their jobs, State Minister for Education, Theonest Mutsindashyaka has said.

Mutsindashyaka singled out the believers of Jehovah witnesses as among those who failed to attend the training without genuine reasons.

"There are those who intentionally refused to attend this programme, with no justifiable reasons, those are the people who are not ready for change, we shall therefore not tolerate them,’’ Mutsindashyaka said.

The minister sounded the warning recently while meeting teachers of the Northern Province attending solidarity training at different sites. Observers say Mutsindashyaka is known for his radical changes. His reputation includes a tough housing policy while still the Mayor of Kigali City. The policy led to demolition of many houses in a move to rid the city of slams. During the same visit he warned teachers against breaching the professional code of conduct.

The minister observed that teachers need to dress properly, maintain personal hygiene and ensure good sanitation at school.

The ongoing three-week training is expected to educate participants on government programmes. The training would also tackle issues of stemming genocide ideology out of schools. Mutsindashyaka said teachers who promoted genocide ideology in schools were poisonous and would not be tolerated.

He said a special committee comprising of district and the Ministry of Education officials shall be established to monitor and address the problems faced by teachers including their salary arrears.

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