EASTERN PROVINCE KIREHE—Five more students from Rusumo High school have been admitted to Kirehe hospital after protests by and between students have grown more violent. The students, whose names have been withheld from media, were Tuesday night rushed to Kirehe hospital, including two girls who were in critical condition after student violence continued amidst strikes at the secondary school. Violent strikes and protests by and between students began when former school director Gideon Bizimana was sacked by the district cabinet on September 17 for “failure to fulfill duties.” When Mayor Patrick Nkunzumwami refused to reinstate the director, students began strikes against other the school and other students said to be critical of Bizimana. Protests over allegiance to the director are said to be falling along language lines, as Anglophone students are reportedly loyal to Bizimana while francophone students applaud his exit. Strikes over the sacking began on the evening of Monday September 24, during which 15 students were seriously injured after meeting with the Mayor Patrick Nkunzumwami, demanding the director’s return. The total admitted to the hospital now stands at 20. However Head Boy Alex Butare said earlier that the issue of the director was not the cause but simply ‘the last straw’ leading to the strikes. The issue of Anglo-francophone relations within the school seems to be the main issue aggravating the matter, though the mayor has denied reports of these lingual divisions.All teachers and students at the secondary school were told they would be fired or expelled if they took part in the strikes. Mayor Nkunzumwami says Bizimana was sacked over lack of management of both the school and its students, some of whom have been called ‘prostitutes sleeping outside with boys.’ There are also reports that the director gave gender-based free marks to students, heavily favouring female students. This is not the first time violence has erupted at the school. Last year, divisions between French-speaking and English-speaking students resulted in physical fights. Ends
