Blog 7

In the article “The Issue – Rwandan schools bear the weight of history: news” published in TES Global Limited, author Jackson Twagirayezu describes how teaching at schools in Rwanda about the genocide is still difficult, but it’s on the right path.  During the genocide 800,000 citizens died in just three months.  In present day Rwanda, this issue is faced every day for teachers to teach to kids or not to.  The author’s family was exiled from Rwanda before the genocide even happened.  When the Rwandan Patriotic Force arose to power his family then was required to come home.  80 percent of his relatives were killed.  Teachers in Rwanda including the author struggle to teach this because they really have no explanation for it.  “For this reason, the genocide was for a long time not officially taught in Rwandan primary schools.”  Students did not even study the genocide growing up.  In 2007 a debate took place to decide whether or not to teach the genocide to the kids.  Teachers still today are very cautious about the topic, because they can’t go to deep into the information about the genocide. Teachers do teach about Rwandans independence in 1994, and pre-colonial period.  They only recommend for students aged from 11-14 to go to see the genocide memorial centers once a year.  In secondary schools they do teach more about the genocide but it’s still considered a shaky topic.  April 7^th is where Rwanda commemorates the genocide.  “These events promote utility and reconciliation, and new testimonies about the genocide, so that we can understand with greater clarity how it was made possible.” Teaching the genocide is improving in Rwanda, they now directly address issues. Overall for Rwanda learning about the genocide is important for their future.  

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I was completely shocked when heard that Rwanda didn’t even teach the genocide in schools for a long time.  I can’t imagine how difficult it is to be a teacher in Rwanda.  You have to be careful of what you say.  The good thing is that it’s getting better. Schools are mentioning the genocide more, it’s slowing improving.  In the U.S growing up, one thing schools didn’t to a great job teaching us was about what we did to the Native Americans.  To be honest a government of a country probably has its reasons for not teaching certain subjects.  In the end though, they eventually start teaching the subjects.  People can learn a lot about the Rwandan genocide once they start fully teaching it in schools.  Overall it only can get better for Rwandan schools.