Burundian refugee children to get new classrooms near Mahama camp

Relief agencies are in the final stages of starting construction of classrooms for Burundian refugee children at a school in the vicinity of Mahama Refugee Camp in Kirehe District. The classrooms will be constructed a kilometre outside the camp at Paysannat L, a primary school in Mahama Sector. The construction is sponsored by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and implemented by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). According to Samuel Ndayambaje, the in-charge of education at ADRA, the classrooms will be constructed in phases, with the first expected to start before end of the month in which 60 classrooms will be constructed. Students in makeshift classroom during their lessons. (Frederic Byumvuhore) Speaking to The New Times, last week, Ndayambaje said they plan to construct more than 112 classrooms for Burundian children. More than 12,000 Burundian children are expected to start schooling when the next school calendar opens in January. Ndayambaje said when schools open in January, some of the refugee children will use temporary makeshift classrooms until the construction is complete. Some 3,829 children aged three to six are due to start Primary One, out of a total of 7,130 primary school-age children. At least 2,205 secondary students are due to start school after a five-month induction programme at Mahama camp. Induction programme Since July, the Burundian children have been undergoing induction programme, an exercise that will end in December. Inside another makeshift classroom in the refugee camp. (Frederric Byumvuhore) The five-month programme was implemented for all children of school-going age to help acquaint them with the Rwandan education system before starting schooling next academic year. In the induction course, the students learn languages, including English, French, Kinyarwanda, Kiswahili, Mathematics, as well as sports and civic education. The lessons are conducted in 98 makeshift classrooms constructed at Mahama camp. Gerard Ingaboyamahina, the ADRA-Rwanda education coordinator at Mahama camp, said they are helping primary and secondary students in partnership with CARE International. “Within the programme, the pupils are given assignments and continuous assessments to determine their grades because some of them do not have academic records to show their levels. If not, some may take advantage of the situation and skip classes.” 98 makeshift classrooms were erected in the camp. (Frederic Byumvuhore) Jacqueline Nzaramba, the in-charge of Early Childhood Development (ECD) at the camp under CARE International, said 3,829 children aged three to six who require ECD curriculum, are being inducted. “The children are being trained by qualified Burundians. Each classroom has two teachers. The pupils are classified according to their ages 3, 4, 5 to 6. We have Rwandan curriculum to follow. Some come in the morning, others afternoon. We are inducting them to start primary.” “Early Childhood Development doesn’t only focus on knowledge but also children’s physical changes and health. In case of any strange disease, we immediately take the child to a health centre. We have nutrition category and knowledge development category within cognitive development activities and protection,” Nzaramba added. Teachers, students delighted Speaking to this newspaper, students commended the programme, saying it restores their hope for education. Donatiste Hamenyimana, a senior five student from Mahama camp, said she had lost hope of continuing her studies after leaving Burundi. There is also nursery in the camp. (Frederic Byumvuhore) “I didn’t expect to continue my studies. I had lost hope but today I am happy that I am studying. It was a bit complicated at first but now I am familiar. Our problem is studying Mathematics in English and writing down some Kinyarwanda words. But I like English and Kinyarwanda. I’m sure I will excel when I start school in Rwanda,” Hamenyimana said. Anicet Bizimana, a senior five student, said he was happy to resume his studies. “We appreciate the way we are trained. We have learnt so many things despite hard conditions. We could have resorted to drugs if not attended to. I am now adapting to Rwanda education system,” Iradukunda said. Raphael Gatoto, a Burundian teacher at Mahama camp, said a close partnership with Rwandan teachers and reading English books helps him to teach the students with ease compared to when he had just arrived. “I am happy to continue my teaching career in Rwanda. It was not easy to adapt to the changes but I’m coping. Close partnership with my local counterparts and reading English books simplify things,” he said. Porridge for the children in nursery school. (Frederic Byumvuhore) “The students are performing well in their assessment. I got surprised to see students begin to understand English more than French. Their grades show that they have appreciated the new system. I hope there will be no difficulties at the time they start school.” Aline Kwizera, another Burundian teacher, said she hopes the Burundian children will be competitive when they start school next year. A total of 96 trainers, including 56 Burundian teachers, are facilitating the programme. The number of registered Burundian refugees stamds at more than 66,000 with more than 43,000 at Mahama refugee camp alone. The Burundians started crossing into the country as early as April in the run-up to the June general elections marred by political violence. Although there is relative stability at the moment, many of the refugees appear to worry that the turmoil is far from over.

News

Burundian refugee children to get new classrooms near Mahama camp