The minister of education Dr. Eugène Mutimura has said that laxity and failure to implement government policies in the education sector as the reason behind the sacking of five senior officers from Rwanda Education Board (REB).

The cabinet meeting on Wednesday resolved to relieve of their duties five heads of department of REB.

They include Dr. Joyce Musabe who was Head of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Resources Department, Dr. Tusiime Rwibasira Michael, Head of Examinations, Selection and Assessment Department; and Peter Mujiji who was relieved of his duties as Head of Corporate Division.

Others are Francis Karegesa, the director of finance and Rutaha Bagaya, the head of procurement unit.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Mutimura said the officials in their respective dockets exhibited weaknesses at work and failed to implement government policies which he said was not tolerable.

“They have been heavily linked to anomalies in printing of senior six certificates that has unnecessarily taken long, wasteful spending through printing these certificates from outside from the country,” he said.

According to the minister, the delays to issue certificates have affected students wishing to pursue their students in higher learning institutions.

“Secondly, there are so many books around the country that have not been delivered to schools to facilitate implementation of the new school curriculum.

“This hindered the implementation of the competence-based examination this year, these staff and others are responsible and the government has taken the decision to relieve them of their duties,” he added

When contacted, Tusiime who until yesterday headed Examination Selection and Assessment Department said it was normal procedures and could not comment on the alleged weakness and other allegations to implement government policies.

Senior six leavers, especially those who want to join university studies in private universities have been finding it hard to immediately enroll in university or join workforce due to lack of certificates.

There were some cases where books that could have been distributed to schools to ease the implementation of competence based curriculum were not distributed on time but instead were seen in people’s homes, according to officials.

Minister Mutimura said it remains a responsibility of judiciary to find out whether the allegations constitute a crime and follow up on the case.

Kwibuka24: Rwandans in France commemorate

On Tuesday, April 10, 2018, the Rwanda Embassy in France organized the 24th Commemoration Ceremony of the Genocide against the Tutsi which was attended by different French official who joined Rwandan community in the country’s capital, Paris.

Among French officials were MP Sira Sylla, chairperson of the France-Rwanda Friendship Group at the National Assembly (Lower House of the Parliament), Rémy Maréchaux, Director for Africa and Indian Ocean at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Marie Audouard, Diplomatic Adviser of the President at L’Elysée.

According to statement from the embassy, the event also attracted diplomats accredited to Paris, mainly ambassadors representing African countries.

Among them were several Ambassadors from African countries and members of the Jewish and Armenian communities.

In his remarks, Rwandan ambassador to France, Jacques Kabale, said this 24th commemoration in Paris was the opportunity to welcome the evolution by the international community to recognise the Genocide against the Tutsi as per different United Nations resolutions.

“This year, the General Assembly of the UN unanimously adopted Resolution A/72/L.31 that specifies the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. This new resolution removes any ambiguity about the identity of Tutsi victims,” reads part of the statement.

Ambassador Kabale also highlighted the significance of the event, not only as a tribute to the victims, but also as a support to the survivors.

He insisted on the necessity to keep the international community mobilized against any aspects of denial, revisionism and trivialization of all human genocides.

He remarked that Education curriculum in schools and universities should be oriented towards a better knowledge of issues related to racism and discrimination as he invited the diplomatic community to develop further this dimension in UNESCO activities.