Kigali day schools to close for six days during CHOGM to ease traffic

Rwanda will temporarily close day schools in Kigalifor six days to ease congestion in the city during theCommonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM scheduled for the next week.

“In order to ease traffic flow in the City of Kigali during CHOGM, and to avoid disruption to movement of day scholars and their teachers, the Ministry of Education would like to inform parents and students… all day schools in Kigali will be closed from 20th to 26th June 2022,” said Mr Gaspard Twagirayezu, Minister of State in charge of Primary and Secondary Education in a statement issued on Monday.

The Ministry also announced that the end of Term 3 exams for students will begin on June 27.

“Day students living in Kigali are encouraged to revise lessons or engage in self/distance learning at homewhile boarding students will remain in their respective school,” said Mr Twagirayezu.

Read:Rwanda drops everything for upcoming CHOGM

Confirmed participants

So far over 40 heads of State have confirmed participation with up to 10,000 guests expected to descend on Kigali during the six days.

Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales who Heads the Commonwealth and his wife Duchess Camilla, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnston have confirmed participation. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is also expected in Kigali.

The confirmed venues to host CHOGM include the multimillion-dollar Kigali Convention Centre, which boasts a sitting capacity of 2,600 guests, and 650 parking spaces.The otheris the Intare Arena located in Rusororo, which can host 2,316 delegates.

The Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village located in the city centrewill also play host. It haspreviously been used for international events such as the World Economic Forum and African Development Bank (AfDB meeting.

Hotels earmarked for the event include high-endMarriott, Serena, and M-Hotel.

Also read:Organisers put final touches as Kigali prepares for Chogm