SOUTHERN PROVINCE MUHANGA — Educationalists in the Rongi Sector, Muhanga district have reaffirmed their commitment to improving the performance of primary schools in the next year. They announced their commitment last week during a two -day retreat organised to lay strategies to improve academic performance ahead of the next academic year. The retreat held at Rongi Primary School attracted heads of primary schools, and education representatives in various cells. Etienne Nzanzimana, the Sector education official explained that they want to increase school enrolment, and increase the number of teachers as part of their strategies. They also plan to raise more funds in the primary schools resolving fund in order to improve the teaching conditions among teachers. The school directors also agreed to implement sector education strategies by sensitising parents on the value of education. This, they said, would improve performance in national exams.The Rongi Sector ranks ninth in performance out of 12 sectors of the Muhanga district. Only 15 out of 315 pupils excelled with distinction in 2007 national exams. About 354 sat for Primary Leaving Exams this year. “We expect to have better results following the set strategies, so as to achieve more than 95% participation of children in elementary education, this calls for collective efforts of all residents,” Nzanzimana said. He added that next year they will train teachers in various skills including examination setting, and various environmental protection programmes in each of the 12 primary schools in Rongi. At the retreat, the participants were also trained on methods of preparing school budgets, accountability, making financial reports and education administration regulations among other things. The educationalists cited shortage of English teachers, proper school buildings, water storage facilities and means of transports as among the challenges to uplifting education standards in the area. Ends
