Teacher engages students at Kigali Greater Heights School – Ndera sector
A cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame has made major changes in the education agencies at a time when the government has launched an evaluation of the sector performance.
With only two years left for Rwanda to hit the middle-income status target, cabinet replaced the head of Rwanda Education Board (REB), the custodian of education profile, which is a key sector if Rwanda is to graduate from poor countries.
The cabinet approved appointments of Dr. Irenée Ndayambaje as Director General and replacing Janvier Gasana who has been at the helm of the board since 2015. Angelique Tusiime is Deputy Director General.
Gasana was formerly charged with the department overseeing the quality of education in REB.
Other changes in REB also saw Vincentie Nyangoma, The former acting Head of ICT in Education Department be replaced by Dr. Christine Niyizamwiyitira while Peter Mujiji retained the Management of the Corporate Services Division.
Improvement of the education system for better global positioning and skills development was prioritized during the 2017 National Dialogue Council.
Resolution number one, out of the eight of the National Dialogue stressed the need to keep taking necessary measures and changes aimed to improve quality of education in all education sectors, increasing the number of technical schools and fighting causes of school drop-outs.
Changing Gasana falls among the “necessary measures and changes aimed to improve quality.”
Janiver Gasana
Rwanda is chasing after improved quality education which has always been subject to criticism.
Poor delivery has led to the biggest turnover of top leadership with at least two ministers every two years in the last six years. The latest Minister of Education to be dismissed was Dr Papias Malimba in December last year.
Overpopulated classrooms, mass admission of students to the next class which undermines quality, poor administrative decision and speculations are some of the reasons that make the appointing authority to keep searching for the right man.
On 9th February 2018, the Prime Minister, Dr. Edouard Ngirente launched Quality Education Enhancement Awareness Campaign in Manyagiro Sector of Gicumbi District in Northern Province.
“To achieve on the improved quality education, we need to address all the challenges that hinder it, like high levels of school dropout and repetition (which results into low levels of transition and completion rates), poor school leadership, poor school hygiene and sanitation, use of drugs and unwanted pregnancies among others,” Ngirente said.
Rwanda’s Higher Education Council (HEC) gets Dr. Theoneste Ndikubwimana to Head the Academic Quality Department replacing Dr. Abdallah Baguma who has been acting.
With the urgency to create 1.5million jobs by 2024 and 200.000 off farm jobs annually through training and increasing numbers of skilled labor especially among youth, the newly established Rwanda Polytechnic (RP) structure got a new vice Chancellor (Dr. James Gashumba) and six principals (comprised of five engineers) to head the Polytechnic centres located in Kigali, Ngoma, Karongi, Rulindo, Musanze and Nyamagabe.
Approved Dismissals, Ministerial Facelift
The cabinet also dismissed 35 Police Officers from Rwanda National Police on Presidential Order and on Ministerial Order dismissed 154 Non-Commissioned Officers and Police Constables from Rwanda National Police.
However, during the cabinet meeting held January 19th, by Presidential Order 1.042 Commissioners, Senior Officers and Junior Officers of Rwanda National Police were promoted and 111 Commissioners, Senior Officers and Junior Officers of Police granted retirement.
On Prime Minister’s Order the cabinet held this Wednesday, approved dismissal of Nathan Gashayija – as Director General in the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM). He is currently facing judicial prosecution on charges of nepotism according to our previous story.
Gashayija made lists of staff to participate in conferences outside the country, and among the names- he allegedly added one of his sisters (Nora Nyiraneza) who is not an employee of the ministry.
Nathan Gashayija accused of nepotism – He was Director General in charge of EAC affairs in Ministry of Trade
Both Gashayija and Nyiraneza were denied bail and continue to face justice since 2017.
Read More: Former Director in Trade Ministry Pinned For Nepotism
After the same ministry getting a new Director General of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (Jonas Munyurangabo) this January , the institution also got major changes with Cassien Karangwa coming in as Director of the Domestic Trade Unit, Telesphore Mugwiza as Director of the Industrial Development Unit, and Domina Hakuzimana on Director of Entrepreneurship Development Unit.
In the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), Zachée Iyakaremye as Director of Budget Policy Formulation Reforms Unit.
The National Fund for Environment (FONERWA) also got a new Board of Directors with Etienne Ntaganda, as Chairperson and deputized by UWAMBAJE Laurence along a seven people team.
Other appointments also saw the National Rehabilitation Services get – ACP Gilbert Gumira Rwampungu: Deputy Director General, Albert Mutesa as Secretary General in National Commission for the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Evode Kazasomako is Secretary General of the National Itorero Commission/NIC.
