PH
According to a new survey conducted by the Education Ministry, Rwandan teachers and students are yet to fully return to schools, which have reopened since November 2.
Students of Primary Five and Six, Secondary Three, Five, and Six resumed their second term classes after over seven months of suspension since March amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The survey also showed that some 11 percent and nine percent of primary and secondary students, respectively, have yet to report back to their schools, the majority of whom are in the capital city of Kigali
Official data indicates that teachers who may leave schools could widen the staffing gap as the government needs more than 18,000 teachers in primary and secondary schools to meet the ideal teacher-student ratio.
At least 4.8 percent and 4.4 percent of teachers in primary and secondary schools, respectively, have yet to report back to schools, according to the survey.
They are suspected to have taken on different jobs during the shutdown, according to the ministry.
Under Rwandan public service rules, an employee who absconds from duty without permission for 15 days is considered to have abandoned the job.
