Two young women, Jeannette Ndayishimiye, 19, and Florence Nduwayezu, both from Gahwazi II in Commune Mpanda, abandoned their studies years ago due to challenging personal circumstances, illustrating persistent dropout issues in the region. Ndayishimiye left school four years ago due to family poverty, while Nduwayezu discontinued her education after an unwanted pregnancy.
Ndayishimiye, who was in her fifth year, stated, "I had trouble getting school supplies. Sometimes I would spend an entire term with only a few notebooks, which made note-taking very difficult. So I had to leave school to help my parents and my younger siblings." She added that her lack of education affects her current work, saying, "I have difficulty with mental calculations or quickly adding amounts. I also struggle with languages like French, Kiswahili, or English, even though all these subjects are taught at school." She encourages others to continue their studies to "acquire more knowledge and better prepare for their future."
Florence Nduwayezu, who was in her 11th year of post-fundamental education, explained, "I stopped studying because of a pregnancy. My goal was to finish my studies, but that was not possible." Nduwayezu expressed regret, noting, "My classmates will finish their studies and get their diplomas. The most difficult thing is that I was prevented from returning to school."
Root Causes of Student Departure
School dropouts persist in Gahwazi I, though the rate has decreased, according to school officials. Fidèle Ntacombonye, director of Gifugwe I primary school, confirmed that "comparatively to the last five years, the school dropout rate has decreased." Despite this improvement, efforts are underway in the locality to bring children back to school, involving home visits and awareness sessions.
Mr. Ntacombonye stated that "school dropouts are linked to several factors." These factors include household poverty, excessive time spent in cinemas, and a general lack of motivation among students. Antoinette Ndayitegeyamashi, a community health worker on Gahwazi I hill, noted parental issues. "Sometimes the father can squander family resources instead of meeting the children's needs," Ms. Ndayitegeyamashi said, adding, "In this case, the administration intervenes to counsel him."
Further contributing to the issue, Mr. Ntacombonye explained, is the challenge of language. "In seventh grade, teaching is done in French, a language that some students coming from sixth grade do not master," he noted. "This discourages them and then leads them to drop out because they no longer feel comfortable in class." Domestic instability also plays a role, with Mr. Ntacombonye observing, "In families where disputes are frequent, the child grows up in an unstable environment that does not favor the continuation of studies. They end up dropping out."
Another declared factor involves men from other localities seducing young girls with promises of marriage, which often results in unwanted pregnancies and subsequent dropouts. The school system itself faces challenges, including teacher absenteeism. Mr. Ntacombonye explained that "when a child comes to class and does not find teachers for several days, they get discouraged and eventually drop out." He added, "On the other hand, the regularity of teachers helps keep students in school and reduces dropouts." Some teachers have left their positions "to seek better opportunities elsewhere, particularly in commerce or agriculture, due to unsatisfactory remuneration," according to Mr. Ntacombonye. He also specified that these are "teachers without an ID number," making their supervision difficult. "We ask the government to provide us with qualified and officially recognized teachers," he said.
Impact and Consequences
School dropouts contribute to a range of negative consequences in Commune Mpanda, including an increase in street children, theft, and drownings. At Gifugwe I primary school, the most frequent dropouts occur in the seventh year and the first years, according to school officials. Of the 48 students who dropped out from Gifugwe I, 21 were girls and 27 were boys. Florence Nduwayezu, who left her studies in the 11th year post-fondamentale, cited pregnancy as the reason for her departure. "My goal was to finish my studies, but that was not possible," Ms. Nduwayezu stated, adding, "I regret because my colleagues will finish their studies and obtain their diplomas. The most difficult thing is that I was prevented from returning to school." Jeannette Ndayishimiye, another former student, dropped out in her fifth year due to financial difficulties. "I had trouble getting school supplies. Sometimes I would spend an entire term with only a few notebooks, which made note-taking very difficult," Ms. Ndayishimiye explained. She further noted the long-term impact on her current work, stating, "I have difficulty with mental calculations or quickly adding amounts. I also struggle with languages like French, Kiswahili, or English, even though all these subjects are taught at school." Ms. Ndayishimiye urged others to continue their education, saying, "I encourage others to pursue their studies in order to acquire more knowledge and better prepare for their future." Despite these challenges, the rate of school dropouts at Gifugwe I has decreased compared to the last five years.
Official Responses and Outlook
Official responses indicate concern regarding the persistent issue of school dropouts in Commune Mpanda. Domitien Niyonkuru, head of Gahwazi I hill in Mpanda zone, stated, "School dropouts concern the authorities." Mr. Niyonkuru further outlined the broader societal impact, adding, "School dropouts lead to several negative effects, including an increase in the number of street children, cases of theft, and drownings in rivers." Gifugwe I primary school has registered 48 cases of dropouts, noting the scale of the challenge.
Measures have been implemented to address specific contributing factors, including efforts to prevent motards (motorcycle taxi drivers) from attracting young girls, a practice that contributed to school pregnancies. Mr. Niyonkuru confirmed, "We have taken measures to put an end to this practice, and the motards have stopped hanging out with students in the streets." The official also pointed to a significant challenge within the education system itself. A lack of teachers is a major issue at Gifugwe I, with some educators reportedly leaving their positions for better opportunities elsewhere.
Analysis of the dropout statistics from Gifugwe I primary school reveals a particular concentration in certain academic years. At Gifugwe I, 27 dropouts were registered in the seventh year, while 19 occurred in the first years. Mr. Niyonkuru emphasized the long-term implications for students, stating, "In the coming years, those who have not studied will have difficulty accessing decision-making positions." He urged students to persevere, adding, "Young people must show courage to prepare their future. They are the ones who will replace current generations."
