Early this month, Rwanda joined the rest of the world in celebrating the International Teacher’s Day, held annually to mark the role teachers play in providing quality education at all levels. Celebrated nationally in Southern Province’s Kamonyi District under the theme ‘Young Teachers: the Future of the Profession’, the day served to honour teachers and remind them of their rights and responsibilities, the standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment and learning conditions. During the celebration, best-performing teachers were recognised and awarded. James Ngoga, the head of Teacher Development & Management, Career Guidance and Counselling Department at Rwanda Education Board (REB), says the best performing teachers were selected and awarded at the sector, district, province and national level. Some of the officials at the event in Kamonyi District. Photos by Lydia Atieno. At the sector level, 832 teachers were given laptops, at district, 60 were given tablets and smartphones, while at the provincial level, motorcycles and tablets were given to the 10 best performing teachers. At the same time, four teachers emerged winners at the national level and were given motorcycles and flat-screen televisions. According to Ngoga, the selection of best-performing teachers was based on achievements in innovations and best practices in the teaching profession. Criteria used To stand a chance to win, teachers were required to have at least two years teaching experience, as well as teaching in a government or government-aided school. Also, ICT in teaching or delivering lessons was considered, and the competence-based curriculum in all their teaching lessons. Sylvain Bizirema with the motocycle he was awarded during the Teachers Day celebrations. Johnson Ntagaramba, the director of Teacher Management and Staffing at REB, says teachers have a big responsibility in nurturing and bringing out the best citizens, therefore, recognising them in one way or another is part of motivating them to work hard. Given the work teachers are doing, he says it’s understandable that their remuneration is not enough, but coming up with other incentives on top of this is one way to recognise their efforts and encourage them to work hard. Winners share their experience Sylvain Bizirema, a science and chemistry teacher at Ecole des Sciences St Louis de Montfort in Nyanza District emerged the best performing teacher at the national level in secondary schools. He was awarded a motorcycle and television. He acknowledges the effort made by fellow teachers when it comes to teaching, and that being awarded doesn’t mean that others are not good enough. Meanwhile, he believes that his application of the competency-based curriculum in teaching, which involves new methods of education, stacked the odds in his favour. He says that he has also been using ICT in teaching, focusing on helping students when it comes to research, and applying both theory and practical in his lessons. Bizirema says as a teacher, making sure that his students are able to apply what they are learning in their daily lives is one of his objectives, which will generate all-round students. “A learner being able to use the knowledge acquired in the classroom outside the classroom, puts them in a better position to fit in this competitive world, and that’s what I always thrive to achieve,” he says. In his line of work, he mentions that working hand-in-hand with other teachers has always been his core value, as this has contributed greatly to the school’s good performance. Bizirema says awards are a way to motivate teachers to work hard and improve performance in general. Also, it’s an opportunity for teachers who didn’t win to emulate others and work on how to be recognised in the future. This, he says, encourages hard work and determination, which in the end, results in success. He says since teaching is more than a profession to him, he will still strive to work hard and ensure he gives his students the best. However, his plea to the Ministry of Education and REB is to look into rewarding teachers from school level, so as to increase competition among teachers in different schools. “Since teachers’ salary has been an issue for a long period of time, and not only in Rwanda, I think on top of other incentives the government provides, recognising their effort within schools l believe can serve as a ladder for teachers to reach their goals,” he adds. Beatha Ashishakiye, a teacher at E.P Gafunzo Primary School in Ngoma District, also walked away with a television and motorcycle. She was rewarded as the best performing teacher in primary school at the national level. For her, she says, it takes a lot of effort and dedication for a teacher to deliver their best. Since teaching is her call, Ashishakiye says she has and will continue playing her part as an educator, to make sure learners get what it takes to be competitive outside the school environment. She maintains that in her case, many times, she has bought school materials using her own money for the benefit of the learners under her care. “As an educator, your role is not only to teach; there are many things that can make your work a success,” she says. She notes that although incentives are there to keep teachers motivated, they shouldn’t forget their role, and focus on moulding the young generation despite the challenges. She adds that working in an environment that is supportive financially, emotionally and psychologically always yields positive results in the end. Mark Ndagijimana, a deputy teacher at GS Ruhango Catholique School in Ruhango District, received a smartphone and a tablet at the provincial level. He says that as a teacher, working hard to help learners is a priority, and recognising their (teachers) effort is a way to ensure students’ success. He says that when teachers are stirred through such incentives, they will work hard not only to be rewarded, but also help learners get what is required as far as education is concerned. Ndagijimana further mentions that just like any other person in a different profession, a teacher is willing to go beyond his/her call or task and do what is required of them, but only if they work in a conducive environment that encourages motivation. “A motivated teacher is vital to the success of a learner. Such teachers will look at teaching through a different lens, and, in doing so, motivate their students in their learning too,” he says. Ndagijimana urges the Ministry of Education to find ways to encourage parental follow-up of their children’s performance. He insists that working hand-in-hand with parents ensures the success of students, as opposed to when parents solely rely on teachers to shape their children’s lives. He adds that when a learner has support from both sides, it’s easy to excel not only in education, but life in general. Ndagijimana notes that teachers should put into the consideration that learners spend most of their time at school; therefore, moulding them into responsible persons is important. editor@newtimesrwanda.com
