Anger as Murigande fails to meet teachers

KARONGI – The cancellation of a meeting between the Minister of Education, Dr. Charles Murigande and Karongi District teachers prompted angry reactions from members of the teaching profession in the region yesterday. The meeting, cancelled at the last minute, was meant to assess the progress of the 9 year basic education programme. The teachers complained that the district authorities had announced the cancellation of the meeting at the last minute, when many of them had travelled long distances to reach the venue. “We are from Birambo and no one informed us that the meeting has been postponed until we reached the set venue. It was a disorganised arrangement that has now cost us a lot of money and wasted our time,” a disappointed teacher said. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the teacher claimed that he had spent his money on accommodation and related expenses because his school is located a long distance from the venue of the meeting. “Some one called me this morning to say that the meeting had been cancelled but I had already arrived at the venue and it served no purpose,” said another head teacher, who asked not to be named. Recently, teachers in the district threatened to down their tools over unpaid salaries, but the problem has since been resolved. Efforts to reach the District Education Director, Jean Marie Vianney Rutayisire, for an explanation as to why the meeting was called off, were futile as his phone was switched off by press time. Ends