Rwanda’s Investigation Bureau (RIB) says 81 people have been arrested for allegedly helping pupils cheat in the country’s national primary school leaving examinations.
Among those arrested are two deputy mayors: Mukandayisenga Janviere, the deputy mayor of Kirehe District in charge of social affairs, and Muhayeyezu Joseph Désiré, the deputy mayor of Nyamasheke District in charge of economic development.
RIB presented 39 of the suspects to the media and said those arrested included local education officials, school leaders and teachers.
The suspects are accused of using their official positions for personal gain, forging or altering documents and using forged documents, as well as breaching professional confidentiality.
How the alleged cheating was organised
RIB spokesperson Dr Thierry Murangira said the suspected scheme was organised in advance under what some of those involved described as “helping the children”.
According to RIB, trusted teachers were selected to supervise examination rooms and facilitate the distribution of answers to pupils.
Dr Murangira said that, once an examination paper was released, a teacher familiar with the subject could obtain a copy, solve the questions quickly and prepare the answers.
The answers would then allegedly be taken into the examination room, where pupils would be given an opportunity to copy them.
RIB said teachers assigned to supervise the examination rooms were sometimes involved in facilitating the process by allowing other teachers to enter and provide the answers.
## Suspects arrested in five districts
The investigation has so far focused on five districts.
RIB said 21 people were arrested in Kirehe, seven in Ngoma, three in Kayonza, 15 in Nyamasheke and 35 in Rubavu.
The Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) has said that 7,188 pupils across the country were found to have cheated in the national examinations.
Officials among those detained
The suspects include education officials from Kirehe, Ngoma, Nyamasheke and Rubavu districts.
RIB also identified school leaders from 13 schools among those arrested. They include four school heads from Kirehe, one from Ngoma, two from Kayonza, one from Nyamasheke and five from Rubavu.
Other suspects include teachers, school employees, accountants and librarians.
Charges facing the suspects
RIB says the suspects are facing three main charges: abuse of authority for personal benefit, forgery or alteration and use of forged documents, and disclosure of professional secrets.
Under Rwanda’s anti-corruption law, a public official who uses their position or authority to perform an unlawful act, or fails to perform a legal duty, with the intention of obtaining an unlawful benefit for themselves or another person may face imprisonment.
The law provides for a prison sentence of between seven and 10 years and a fine, depending on the circumstances and whether the offence involved financial gain.
Forgery or alteration of documents and knowingly using forged documents can attract a prison sentence of between five and seven years, together with a fine, or one of the two penalties.
A person who unlawfully discloses information obtained through their professional duties may also face imprisonment and a fine.
The people arrested are **suspects at this stage**. Their guilt or innocence will ultimately be determined by the courts based on the evidence presented during legal proceedings.
