EASTRERN PROVINCE

GATSIBO – The Ministry of Education has promised Frw20m towards the installation of solar energy at Nyabisindu Primary School in Gatsibo district.

Justin Nsengiyunva the secretary General for the Ministry of Education said this on Monday while inaugurating the newly opened primary school. John Murego, the district Mayor was also present at the function.

Nsengiyunva explained the money would be used to buy the necessary equipments for the installation process aimed at turning the school into one of the modern schools in the district.

Addressing teachers and parents, Nsengiyumva urged the group to uproot genocide ideologies that are said to be rife among pupils and students. He observed genocide ideologies that are found in pupils and students originate from their homes.

"The genocide ideology cases found in schools are planted by parents. We know it, how can a pupil in primary four know how to distinguish the different ethnic groups? Their parents preach them at tender age”, he said.

According to Didas Ruzindana, assistant Bishop of Byumba Diocese, Nyabisindu Primary School was built by Foundation Barceló, a Spain-based organisation that works with their diocese.

"After seeing how our children were suffering with poor and old classrooms, we decided to seek assistance from our sponsors from Spain and fortunately they responded positively to build us a modern school here so we are very happy,” Ruzindana told the congregation.

The school was constructed at a cost of about Frw114 million. It has 24 modern classrooms and one big staffroom.
The district mayor said that all pupils in primary six in Gatsibo district will enjoy free education from senior one up to senior three next year.

"I’m assuring all parents here that January 1 2009, all pupils who will finish primary six this year will join senior one free. Those ones who think that after primary six will marry or get married; it will not work out because every pupil in Gatsibo district will join secondary next year. Our intake in senior one will be 100 per cent,” Murego said.

The remarks compound the earlier reports that the government had given Gatsibo District Frw800 million to pilot a 9-year basic education project.

The mayor said that the project is part of the Government’s fee free primary education policy which aims to provide free education from primary one to senior three.

The free education is to be implemented within the poverty reduction framework and seeks to expand access to basic education and training to all children.

Nsengeyunva said that Gatsibo district is among five pilot districts where the project will start next year.

Murego said that they have to construct and finish 130 classrooms before January 1 next year before schools open for the next academic year.

The Mayor further said that students leaving school after the nine years will have acquired both academic and technical life skills.

He explained that students after completing ‘O’level will then be able to proceed for high school education or enroll in vocational training centres where they can undergo a one-year course in any technical field like mechanics, electricity, plumbing or carpentry.

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