Focus: Teachers, students welcome changes in the education sector

Last year, many changes to be introduced in the education system were announced. Many of the changes would be effected this year and they probably are already in operation. Some of those changes include reducing the number of subjects being offered in Ordinary level from nine to eight and from six to five in the Advanced level. Also, English was announced as the language of instruction replacing French. The Sunday Times toured some schools and interviewed some heads of schools, teachers and students on how these changes are being implemented and perceived. Neponutene Rushayigi, Headmaster Glory Secondary School, said that the changes in the education system have come at a time when Rwanda needs them most. “The speed at which Rwanda is developing, it needs labour which will cope and compete with other people in the region”, he said. Thamer Umimbabazi, a student at Solidarity Academy, said that English is good and easy to write but difficult to read. “Since we have the chance to learn it, then we must put in efforts to learn writing and reading it,” she ends on an encouraging note. Eric Tuyisenge of St. Patrick said that he loves English and welcomes the development and that he will ensure he learns to speak and write it. Unlike Umimbabazi, he instead says he finds writing English more challenging than reading it. “Practice makes perfect, so I believe that since I have interest in the language, it will be easy for me to learn it,” he says. Carine Umutoni a secondary school student said that the changes were implemented on day one. He welcomed the idea of reducing the number of subjects to five saying that it will improve students’ performance. Martine Masaba, Head Master Lycee de Kigali, said that the change from French to English as the language of instruction has not affected the school in any way since the school has been having both Anglophone and Francophone sections. He added that although the introduction of English as the language of instruction might be a challenge to some schools, with time they will come to the right form. Overall, all these changes have been well received as all stakeholders seem to understand why they were instituted. Though the beginning is not always easy, Rwandans are bound to benefit from these changes especially as members of the East African Community. Ends