School directors move to squash genocide ideology

Secondary school directors have come out to boost joint efforts to fight genocide ideology in the wake of a recent parliamentary probe report, which revealed alarming cases of the vice in schools.Under their national umbrella body – Rwanda Federation for Directors of Secondary Schools (FERADES) – the directors have met Education minister Dr Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya and discussed measures to fight genocide ideology.FERADES vice chairman Peter Claver Kabanda confirmed their discussion with Mujawamariya on Wednesday. “We raised our concern and came up with resolutions we think that can help in fighting genocide ideology,” Kabanda said.He said they suggested that the ministry builds directors’ residencies at or nearby schools and be facilitated. The ministry should appoint teachers in charge of discipline and fighting genocide ideology, the directors recommended, according to Kabanda.He explained: “Most of these schools have directors that reside a bit far from schools but if they are at school or very near, few cases of genocide ideology or no cases would be reported.” He said that FERADES will advocate for establishment of ‘Never Again, Unity and Reconciliation’ clubs in all schools. He added that training in conflict transformation, peace-building and youth peace camps would be conducted as well.Kabanda who is also chairman of the secondary school directors in Gatsibo District, Eastern Province, said houses or vehicles will be given to directors with integrity and with no genocide ideology. District authorities will recommend them, he added.The directors’ suggestions follow the damning report released this month by a parliamentary committee. The report indicated that some secondary schools in the country had cases of genocide ideology as high as 97 percent.In some schools like Association pour la Culture, l’Education et le Developpement Integre de Mataba (ACEDI) in Gakenke District, Northern Province, school authorities introduced different uniforms for Genocide survivor students. Other schools found to have high cases of vice include Ecole Secondaire de Taba and Groupe Scolaire de Muhura, both in Gatsibo District, Eastern Province.MP Donatilla Mukabalisa who chaired the ad hoc commission told Parliament that in 32 schools surveyed, respondents said genocide ideology was rampant among students, teachers and school administrators.Mujawamariya said recently that her ministry will blacklist all teachers found harboring genocide ideology. She said blacklisting such people would start off with school administrators who were blamed in the MPs’ report.After the report was presented in the Chamber of Deputies, the riled MPs summoned Mujawamariya to explain what her ministry was doing to stop genocide ideology.The MPs blamed her for lack of practical and stringent measures to address the problem which exist in both primary and secondary schools. Subsequently, the House set up another ad hoc commission to devise measures to fight the ideology in schools and is expected to present a report early next month. Ends

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School directors move to squash genocide ideology