Rwanda National Police

 Mentors in schools should continuously involve and reach out to their students and sensitize them about their role in fostering community safety, as well as the dangers of getting involved with criminal gangs and activities.

 The message was delivered by Rwanda National Police (RNP) on June 23 during a meeting with school administrators from eight schools in Ruhango District.

 The meeting which was held in Ruhango Sector also attracted police officers operating in the region and district leaders - and was presided over by the Vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs, Jolie Gérmaine Mugeni, who commended RNP for its continuous partnership in crime prevention.

 Mugeni, commended school administrators for their fruitful cooperation with RNP, and urged them to closely work with local leaders in matters related to public safety and security.

 “It is the responsibility of each member of society to maintain public safety – but it is the role of school administrators to promote crime prevention throughout their school premises. Each administrator should indicate a proactive stance on crime prevention and be exemplary to the students,” she said.

 “You should always conduct awareness programs and debates to encourage students to become active in securing their campuses against criminal gangs and against all forms of criminality.”

 In his remarks, the District Police Commander of Ruhango, Superintendent Richard Rubagumya, told the administrators to remind students of their role to adhere to the rule of law whether at school or in their home communities, as well as be exemplary to their communities.

 “To become true partners in the prevention of crime, schools should play their part in maintaining a safe and secure campus for all students by providing timely information to law enforcers whenever they suspect activities such as drug use and violence,” he said.

 “We need you to serve as eyes and ear since you are in a better position to identify behavior and activities that are out of the ordinary in your school compounds and encourage students to be quick and effective in providing accurate and timely reports of emergency or suspicious incidents.”

 He also reminded them to adequately deal with all problems brought to their attention by the students before they escalate into lawlessness.

 RNP continuously reaches out to students and youth throughout the country on the subject of security, and has trained over1000 members of the Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Crime Prevention Organisation (RYVCPO) on crime prevention.

 The organisation comprises about 7, 000 members countrywide, including students, who carry out crime prevention awareness programmes in schools and communities.

 About 140, 000 members of community policing committees have also been given basic skills in crime prevention.