French language teaching to begin in senior one

SOUTHERN PROVINCE HUYE — Pupils will only start learning French on joining senior one, the Inspector of Schools in the Province has said. Speaking to local leaders on Monday, Johnson Ndayambaje, said that English will be the only medium of instruction at all levels beginning this academic year. “Teachers have undergone training in the usage of English language as a medium of instruction and more training is ongoing. We call upon local leaders to support this programme and to make timely interventions where there are problems,” he said. The nine year basic education programme starts this academic year across the country. Enrolment is expected to rise sharply. “We have built a number of new classroom blocks to accommodate these new students. In addition, schools will run a double shift system,” said Ndayambaje. The official explained that the nine year basic education programme does not mean a change in the country’s educational system. “We shall continue to have six years of primary school and three for Ordinary level. Pupils will only be expected to sit for the national examination at the end of senior three,” he said. Rwanda follows a 6-3-3-4 education system. The changes have also meant a reduction in the number of subjects at the lower and upper primary school levels. Pupils in lower primary level (P1-P3) will be expected to study English language, Kinyarwanda, Mathematics and General paper while those in upper primary will study English, Kinyarwanda, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. The teacher –pupil ratio is expected to fall to 1-45 and the teaching hours will fall from 40 per week to between 24- 30. According to Ndayambaje, teachers will use the extra hours to involve themselves in extra-curricula activities, lesson planning and marking of pupils’ assignments. In a related story, schools in Butare town are readying themselves for the start of the academic year that begins on January 12. At the Butare Catholic Primary School, new classroom blocks have been built with funding from the Ministry of Education and old ones rehabilitated with support from well wishers. According to Sr Marie Veneranda Mukamugema, the school is ready to start off with the nine year basic education programme. “We have six new classroom blocks and an additional 25 which have been renovated. We are expecting 672 students from three neighbouring schools to start senior one in this school when the year opens,” she said. Ends