EASTERN PROVINCE RWAMAGANA—Directors of education at the districts have been asked to address teachers’ problems before referring them to the ministry. Making the appeal was Johnson Ntagaramba, an official of the ministry of education, in charge of teacher management and staffing while addressing a group of districts education directors under going one-week training at AVEGA centre. “Whenever you meet a simple problem you think it must be referred to the ministry yet you have been given the responsibility to solve such problems,” Ntagaramba noted, adding that the decentralized entities have been mandated to address minor issues. He further revealed that consultations are still underway on the teacher’s draft statute and decentralization of salaries to district level. Bernard Ruziga in charge of salaries at the Ministry of Public Service, Skills Development and Labour explained the government’s remuneration policy and the law governing government salaries. Asked to explain when and how teachers’ salaries would be decentralized, Ruziga said that it is till a long process requiring a lot of effort. “Whereas some districts are capable of handling the matter others are not. Still there are several requirements that are needed for teachers’ salaries to be paid at district level,” he said. He cited data programming which is still under design and other necessities like internet connectivity which many district do not have access to, as impediments to decentralized salary scheme. The directors complained that teachers are frequently neglected and ignored by respective line ministries. One of the directors requested that teachers should be given chance to contribute to the draft statute which is being designed by the ministry. Other issues raised, concerned teacher’s meager salaries, deleting teachers from the pay roll during transfers and teachers’ up paid salary arrears. The training was also attended by directors of human resources at district level. Ends
