Head teachers implicated in ghost students scam

• Probe launched in the abuse of health insurance scheme SOUTHERN PROVINCE NYAMAGABE — A host of head teachers in the country face prosecution over creating ghost students, in order to swindle money meant for Genocide survivors students, the Prime Minister has said. Bernard Makuza, said that the problem has been reported in many parts of the country but no stone will be left unturned to prosecute individuals involved in the scandal. He was speaking during the evaluation of performance contracts in the Province on Wednesday. Makuza explained that some school heads inflated the numbers of students benefiting from the Fund for Genocide Survivors (FARG); while other students were made to pay for services they did not receive. “Some of these schools received money for accommodating students when in actual sense students provided for their own accommodation,” said an irate Makuza. He did not however, reveal the amount of money swindled. Schools cited in the scandal, in the Province include, ESI Mudasomwa in Nyamagabe district, College Imanzi in Nyaruguru district, APEM and Immaculate Conception in Gisagara. Others are: Igihozo, St Peter, ETM Ihanika, Cost APADEM, Lycee de Nyanza, all in Nyanza district, APERUDE, Ndangaburezi, IZAPAGE, Mukingi ADENTO and Mpanda in Ruhango district. In Muhanga district two secondary schools, EAV Shogwe and Ecole Secondaire des Filles Hamdan bin Rashid were cited in the scam. The Premier warned that those found guilty of the crimes will have to refund the money and face the law. Meanwhile, Makuza disclosed that a probe has been commissioned to investigate reports of abuse of funds meant for the health insurance scheme, commonly referred to as Mutuele de sante, in the same Province. “Some unscrupulous officials in districts like Rusizi have reportedly pocketed money meant to run the scheme. We are launching a full investigation to determine the extent of the problem,” said Makuza. He stressed that the government has set up mechanisms to track all individuals involved in fraudulent activities. Ends