The Director General of the Rwanda Education Board (REB), Dr. Irenee Ndayambaje told IGIHE that teachers should focus on education and teaching by example.
Ndayambaje also said that beatings are prohibited in schools just like it was taboo to beat women, in a traditional context.
“Punishments are given to students but beating children as a punishment, is not accepted in schools,” he added.
Some teachers in primary and in the nine years basic education schools in Rwanda are lamenting that the government has made them subject to students’ disobedience.
One teacher who preferred anonymity told IGIHE students have become more undisciplined because they can’t be beaten by teachers. The teacher who works at Gitega Primary School, in Nyarugenge District says, “A pupil will come and do mistakes and what you only do is to let him/her go because you risk sacking if you beat him.”
Another teacher at Nyamata Sector in Bugesera District says, “Now students are more valued than teachers. If you try to punish him (student) by just beating him with a simple stick, you will have problems.”
Despite some teachers saying they no longer beat students, countrywide some teachers have been giving harsh corporal punishments to students that the victims have been taken to hospitals following the punishments.
In May this year, two teachers at TTC Bicumbi were arrested for beating 21 students, accusing them of shouting so much as they were celebrating the win of Real Madrid Football Club.
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