During a 16 July 1998 telephone interview, the director of the Primary Schools Department of the Ministry of Education in Rwanda stated that all primary schools in Rwanda, including Cyangungu prefecture had, since the 1977 reform, the same organization and the same subjects of instruction. However, while in public schools, students had the rights to choose their religion of instruction (catholic, protestant, Islam or moral), the religion of the church with which the school was affiliated was the sole religion of instruction and compulsory for all students in affiliated schools. In Rwanda, many schools are public, some are affiliated with churches and few are private. About 153 of 1920 primary schools in the country are in Cyangugu prefecture. All primary schools, except those which are for foreigners are totally financed by the Rwandese government.

The director of Rwandese primary schools indicated that while displaying the picture of the head of state in classrooms was at the master's initiative, raising the national flag and singing the national anthem every morning were, and still are, mandatory for all schools.

Different subjects given in primary schools in Rwanda are listed on page 46 of attachments from Education et Culture Revue and for information on languages of instruction and how primary schools were structured in Rwanda between 1977 and July 1994, please refer to Response to Information Request RWA27538.F of 4 September 1997.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Ministry of Education of Rwanda, Department of Primary Schools, Kigali. 16 July 1998. Telephone interview with the director.

Éducation et culture. May 1997. No 4. "No spécial de la réfome." Rwanda: Ministère de l'Éducation nationale, pp. 46-48.