Govt sets up taskforce for students’ turn-up at schools

To curb the complacency that has characterised students reporting to schools late, in the past years, the government has created a supervisory taskforces that help put an end to the vice. According to State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Theoneste Mutsindashyaka, taskforces in every district have been operational since the 2009 academic year started last week. “The report received so far is that the turn-up in schools is 85 percent and we expect to be100 percent by next week,” Mutsindashyaka said on Monday. Officials have observed that students, both in primary and secondary schools, have a tendency of prolonging holidays, especially Christmas holidays, sometimes lasting two to three weeks. The minister said that primary education is free and compulsory, saying there is no justification for reporting to school late. He also added that children are meant to be directed by their parents so that they can abide by the school programmes. Reacting to allegations that some students do not intend to miss but it happens because their parents fail to meet school requirements in time, he said that parents should plan for this in time. “Students must report to school the first day school opens just the same way they go home when school closes” he said. Martin Masaba, the headmaster of Lycee de Kigali Secondary School, said that the turn-up of students this year was not bad compared to the previous ones. Ends

National

Govt sets up taskforce for students’ turn-up at schools