The announcement follows concerns that the issue of lack of accommodation persists in some schools across the country where one class accommodates 70 students.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Eugène Mutimura made the announcement today as he and relevant institutions attached to the ministry presented reports of how they utilized funds for the previous two years and outlining priorities in the next fiscal year 2019/2020.
MINEDUC and associated institutions will spend Rwf 24.9 billion in the fiscal year 2019/2020 up from Rwf 15.5 billion of the previous year 2018/19.
Minister Mutimura explained that the budget was increased to cater for the construction of more classrooms to reduce overcrowding in schools.
He explained that 1150 new classrooms are expected to be built in the next financial year, way below the targeted classrooms.
“We had planned to construct 3112 classrooms and 4668 toilets but we have been allocated the budget of building 1150 classrooms and 1804 toilets,” he said.
“We have a gap of Rwf 17.4 billion to completely address the matter of overcrowding,” added Mutimura.
He pointed out an example of Rwf 271 million they had planned to build classrooms at GS Kimironko I but only Rwf 150million was approved.
During the previous fiscal year, MINEDUC had planned to build new 1686 classrooms, renovate 1286 classrooms, build 1452 toilets and 90 kindergarten schools.
In a bid to improve quality education, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) advises that a teacher should at least teach students between 30 and 35 per classroom.
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