The school curricula of primary and secondary school are set to be widened to include teaching children history of genocide perpetrated against Tutsi as a way of helping them understand how bad leadership led to tragic events that befell the country culminating in 1994 genocide against Tutsi. This will build deeper understanding and prevent reoccurrence of similar mayhem.
Such moral values of fighting against genocide already apparent in other courses are believed to equip children with knowledge and preparing them into proper appreciation of the country’s history and future.
In an interview with IGIHE, the Minister of Education , Dr.Musafili Papias, said that such courses were introduced at the beginning of this year and will go in line with other programs like Ndi Umunyarwanda, Itorero and other associations meant to fight against genocide.
Musafiri explained that such courses include units of genocide causes, how it was prepared and consequences; building a Rwandan community that is well informed about the contemporary history.
“It is about teaching Rwandans starting with children who have to understand history of bad leadership and where such can lead the country. This will give a foundation in building a better future of our country,” he said.
The deputy director of Rwanda Education Board in charge of curriculum, Dr. Joyce Musabe, said that genocide courses will be included in several academic disciplines as it affected a wide range of people and events.
She says that these courses were prepared to strengthen patriotism, honesty, humanity and Ndi Umunyarwanda among Rwandans, the ultimate aim being to ensure that genocide never happens again.
“A person who stands to hunt his fellow and kill him/her is an enemy of the country and his fellows. He loses humanness,” she said.
Rwanda Education Board signed a memorandum of understanding with Aegis Trust where the latter shall publish books of testimonies and genocide history to be used as reference tools.
The executive secretary in the National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG), Dr. Jean Damascene Bizimana says teaching the causes, process and consequences of genocide in schools is an important step towards realizing peace, unity and reconciliation in the country.
“We want a country free of genocide ideology .Together we will build a better future of our country,” he said.
Information from CNLG indicates that genocide ideology harbouring has reduced by 84% since 1994 with 180 cases in 2013, 138 cases in 2014 while the number of genocide ideology cases was 168 by July 2015.
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