Students stranded as schools reopen

Secondary schools across the country opened for their second term yesterday with a number of students failing to make it to schools on time due transport problems. Over the last two days, Nyabugogo Taxi Park has been overcrowded with students travelling to upcountry schools. Most of them were stranded as available vehicles could not cope with the large number of students returning to school.Charles Mahoro, a senior two student at College Karambi in the Western province, said yesterday he had spent two nights at Nyabugogo Taxi Park trying to connect to his school but in vain. He was coming from his home village in Murambi, Eastern Province. “If I delay for another day I am sure they (school authorities) will send me back to bring my parents,” he said worryingly. Some schools in the City of Kigali immediately started studies while others were still in the process of registration.At Lycée de Kigali, some students were still registering while others were idle in the school compound. All school administrators were not available by press time as they were held up in a meeting with the headmaster, Martin Masabo. At Lycée Notre dame de Citeaux, most students had by yesterday turned up for studies. When The New Times visited the school, the students were all in classrooms. The school headmistress, Hellen Ntayituliki, said that normally their students start classes on the first day and that all academic preparations are done during the holidays. “The reason why we get all our students on the first day is mostly because we do not insist that they all report to school after clearing school fees. We allow those who can’t afford paying before the term begins to attend classes,” said Ntayituliki. She said that only ten students had not turned up by press time. “All of them have genuine reasons why they have not come to school in time; they all have health problems and I called their parents to confirm so,” she said, adding “All the teachers have turned up and they have begun teaching.” Lycée Notre Dame de Citeaux is one of the leading girls’ schools in the country. When this reporter visited College Apacope, he found students in class but the Director of Studies, Consolée Nkundimama, said that only about half of the total number of students had reported to school. “Others are still trying to clear their school fees at banks because we don’t allow them to report before paying for their tuition,” Nkundimana added. Ends

National

Students stranded as schools reopen