The National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA) had earlier announced that the first group of boarding students is scheduled to return to their schools on January 3, 2025.
Congestion has been reported at various bus stations across Kigali, where students board vehicles to return to school, making it difficult for some to find transport.
Joseph Rutajobwa, an employee of Virunga Express, explained that the transportation challenges faced by students are largely due to non-compliance with the set return schedule.
'The problem is that students do not respect their designated days. For instance, if students from the Southern Province are assigned a specific date, they often fail to travel on that date and instead show up on other days, leading to overcrowding and delays," he stated.
Emma-Claudine Ntirenganya, the Kigali City Director General in Charge of Communication and Education, stated that some parents have developed a habit of disregarding the schedule for returning students, creating challenges for service providers.
'When parents fail to follow the schedule, it becomes challenging for us as the Kigali City administration, and it also creates difficulties for transportation companies. These companies cannot combine students with other passengers, as students travel under standard fares without additional charges," Ntirenganya explained:
Ntirenganya warned parents who delay their children's return to school, stating that penalties will be introduced.
'Penalties will be implemented, requiring parents to either comply with the schedule or make personal arrangements to transport their children to school.'
NESA has indicated that the final group of boarding students is expected to return to school by January 6, 2025.
IGIHE
