Education

Children from vulnerable parents were debarred to education

Some children whose families are vulnerable were excluded to education, by the aired studies program set by the ministry of education, as response to the closing of schools to avoid the spreading of coronavirus in Rwanda.

“I find many barriers in this aired program on radio and television, for some of us who don’t have television or even radio, our children are not accessing it, and it will affect their performance when they will go back to school, they will find themselves far behind their classmates” said Betty Nyiraneza, a resident of Nyarugenge district in Kigali city.

Marcelline Nyirandereyimana, mother of four and resident of Nyagatare district in Eastern province, says that they don’t have television, no radio, not even the little telephone (some people use telephone to play radio). Her old daughter who is in high school is currently working as helper on schools construction sites; the mother spends the whole time working for others in order to get what to feed her family, and little children stay home.

According to Nyirandereyimana, their children have been victims of the program. “When my child asks me about school and studies, I tell him that there is no way, we don’t have what it takes, may be by chance later, if coronavirus is gone, may be they can get back to school.” She said.

This issues were raised after students who are staying home like most of other Rwandans, were asked to follow their studies on radios, televisions or internet, while some of them don’t even have television or radios in their homes to help them take part in that program.

In a country like Rwanda where education for all appears on government’s agenda.

Article 16 of Rwandan constitution talks about protection from discrimination; where it says that all Rwandans are born and remain equal in rights and freedoms, that discrimination of any kind or its propaganda based on economic categories or any other form of discrimination are prohibited and punishable by law.”

The article 19 talks about child’s right to protection, and the article 20 talks about the right to education where it says that every Rwandan has the right to education.

They wish something would be done

These vulnerable parents wish that something would be done in order to help their children to be on the same line with others. Nyiraneza proposes one of previous solution to Rwandan issues; “if the government would think about a way that can help children from vulnerable families, for example if they could give them radios like the one that once were given to the jury members of Gacaca courts” She said.

Government says to be aware of the issue

The government’s institutions in charge of education in Rwanda claim to be aware of the issue and that they are doing whatever it takes to set it right.

Dr. Irenee Ndayambaje is the Director General of Rwanda Education Board (REB); he says that only technology ways were possible to face the situation put in by the covid-19 outbreak and its effects to education.

“The challenges are there, we know it, but the fact that some people do not have such tools (radio or television), would not prevent it from being used for productivity. Instead we encourage families who don’t have them to get them; and for families who don’t have the ability to get them, we have delivered special help for poor families, composed by radios powered by solar panels.” Said Dr. Ndayambaje.

“Much has been done; and we encourage parents to buy radio as a teaching tool, like they do with books and pens. Children who have not yet received learning materials, even if they are few, but we keep them in mind since education should be accessible to all.” He added.

The Director General of REB promises that when the schools will open again, they will have to go back in order to support those who have not been able to follow the courses that have been offered on radio and television.

Francine Andrew Mukase

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