Financial stability consents teachers to offer quality education. This was the motive behind the establishment of ‘Teachers’ shop,’ a development that came with a mission to improve the welfare of educators. With it, comes a discounted bargain where educators from an accredited education institution can access necessities, including foodstuff, home appliances, and scholastic materials for their children at a low price. Though it was founded in 2017, by three former teachers, the first shop was opened in February this year. And since then, a total of five other shops have been opened across the country. The shop has so far set its footprints in Gasabo and Rwamagana districts; whereas Burera district is set to open its first branch next month. All educators from nursery to university level are able to access this offer for a 10% discount less than the standard market prices, with an exception of only a few products. Teachers can also shop on debt and pay later. At the shop, one sack of rice which is normally Rwf 21,000 costs 18,000, a kilogram of rice was slashed from Rwf 1100 to 950 and cooking oil from Rwf 10,000 to 9200, among other products. “We were not happy with the low teachers’ standards of living and we felt like we should come up with something to facilitate them,” said Amon Mandela, the shop’s director of operations and development. The shop seeks to have three shops in each district and expand outside Rwanda, with a target to have a healthy and gratifying life for all teachers with raised standards of living. Egide Ntuyenabo, a primary school teacher in Rwamagana district narrates how the shop has helped him save money that he has used in emergency situations. “Here, we shop at lower prices and the balance that I save from shopping is the one helping me to survive during this lockdown, and also from other pandemic effects,” comments the primary school teacher. Faustin Nkotanyi, the secretary general of teachers’ union in the private sector, commends such initiatives noting that this is what fosters development of the socio-economic status of society, in this case, teachers. “We hope to be engaged in this development, because we are the beneficiaries and we have to know what is being done in our interests,” he points out, adding that inclusive participation of all the stakeholders will be key to development. The same views are echoed by Stephanie Mukangango, the secretary general of Rwanda’s teachers’ union in the public sector. “This is a good idea, and we call for more teacher-engagement because these are enterprises that will improve their social lives. The shop will facilitate teachers to improve their standards of living,” she says.
