Education Minister Dr Eugène Mutimura told the press on Thursday that the 57 were suspended for not meeting hygiene and safety standards, among other standards requirements.
The issues identified during the School Readiness Inspection conducted this week include poor buildings’ conditions, poor water systems, poor electrical installations and lack of food stocks.
Some suspended schools also lack ICT facilities while others have kept in stores the computers they received through the government’s ‘Smart Classroom’ programme.
The suspended include renowned public schools such as GS Officiel de Butare in Huye District and College Saint Andre Nyamirambo in Kigali.
Suspended private schools include College Adventiste de Rwankeri and Victorious Academy in Musanze and Kayonza districts respectively.
Dr Mutimura said the inspection was conducted in 90 schools deemed to be in bad conditions and 57 were found short of the minimum requirements to accommodate students.
“We have given these schools a period of one week to work on those issues and we shall, in collaboration with other relevant organs, punish the schools which will not have fixed the issues by the deadline,” he said.
The Minister said students will not be affected by the suspension because the concerned schools will add one week more to cover the curriculum as other schools end the academic year come November 23.
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Some leaders of the affected schools disagree with Mineduc and blame the ministry for not having informed them earlier.
Jean Basa Ngabo, the head teacher of ESSA Ruhengeri, said he was surprised to hear that his school is suspended due to poor kitchen chimney.
“The issues they found here should not ban us from starting the term on time as others. We usually paint the buildings and about the kitchen smokes, students are not eating from the kitchen,” he said, adding that he had earlier informed the inspectors that the school’s funder will construct a modern kitchen during the holidays starting in November.
Marie Chantal Uwera, the head teacher of ES Nyakabanda, said she was also surprised with the suspension, adding she is seeking explanations.
“They did not tell us if they found anything alarming here that can lead to school suspension,” she said.
Uwera added they have spread insecticide for bedbugs and have repaired stores for materials as was required by inspectors but the requirement for renovating old buildings requires good time.
The suspended schools include those offering general education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools.
Olivier Rwamukwaya, the State Minister for TVET, told the press that other 30 TVET schools were suspended at the beginning of the current academic year and some of them haven’t yet reopened.
Mineduc reported there were 1,575 secondary schools in the country in 2016 including 460 government-owned, 862 government-aided and 253 private schools.
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