The Ministry of Education, together with its affiliated institutions, staff members, development partners, and representatives of families of former employees, gathered to commemorate 77 former staff who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. These victims served in the former Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Culture, as well as various institutions under those ministries.

As part of the commemoration, participants visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi, Gasabo District. There, they paid their respects by laying wreaths at the mass graves where more than 250,000 victims of the Genocide have been laid to rest.

In his remarks, the Minister of Education,  Joseph Nsengimana, reflected on the magnitude of the atrocities:

“Considering the atrocities committed during the Genocide against the Tutsi, it is difficult to even find the words to describe what happened. The way it was planned and executed—killing children, infants, and the elderly without discrimination—leaves no easy starting point for discussion.”

He further emphasized the transformative role of education in preventing future atrocities:

“Today, Rwanda has nearly five million students—about one-third of our population. If this young generation is raised with the values of humanity and compassion, genocide will never happen again.”

This was the 15th annual commemoration organised by the Ministry of Education and is part of Rwanda’s 31st National Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, held during the national 100-day remembrance period.