The Ministry of Education in Rwanda has clarified the just-announced review in teachers' salaries and the implication of the rise in the remuneration of teachers in primary and secondary schools.
The salary increase was announced by Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente, who said the move is expected to minimise the turnover of teachers in public schools and improve the quality of education.
Addressing a joint parliamentary session on Monday, August 1, the premier announced that primary teachers would get up to 88 per cent in salary increase effective this month.
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According to the Minister for Education, Valentine Uwamariya, only primary school teachers with A2 certificates will get the 88 per cent pay rise. That means a primary teacher will receive a net pay of Ksh12,383, up from Ksh6,579.
In the same light, she pointed out that the government will also increase salaries for teachers with an A1 certificate from Ksh15,626 to Ksh21,894, representing a 40 per cent increase.
For degree (A0) holders (most of them are secondary school teachers), Minister Uwamariya said they will now receive Ksh28,123 up from Ksh20,111.
She highlighted that the government also revised the salaries of head teachers, deans, and supporting staff. As well as injecting Ksh570M into Umwalimu Sacco, the teachers' savings cooperative, to help increase access to finance, Uwamariya said that secondary school head teachers (including in TVET centres) will receive Ksh35,938 in monthly pay. In contrast, their primary school counterparts will receive Ksh17,410, up from Ksh11,606.
Whether they hold A0, A1, or A2 qualifications, both deans of students and discipline in public schools will also see an increase of up to Ksh32,378, Ksh18,663, and Ksh11,166 respectively".
"It is not just about a rise in payment, but we are looking at it as a way of creating a conducive environment for teachers who have long been unstable in this professi "n," she told the national broadcaster.
Prime Minister Ngirente said that up to 1000 teachers leave the profession every month to seek greener pastures elsewhere.
However, Uwamariya sounded optimistic that the latest developments will help reverse the trend and improve improviteachers'rs' welfare".
"Whenteacher'sr's welfare improves, they tend to attend to their classes seamlessly, and lessons are delivered according to schedule. This will also boost our quality of education.
