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Dr. Murigande’s career has been extensive, having served as the former Rector of the National University of Rwanda, Minister of Education, and most recently as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Advancement at the University of Rwanda. Despite retiring, he remains actively involved in education as Chairman of the Board at Kepler College.

In addition to his contributions to education, Dr. Murigande has had a distinguished political career, holding positions such as Rwanda’s Ambassador to Japan, Secretary General of the RPF-Inkotanyi party, and ministerial roles in Foreign Affairs, Transport and Communications, Education, and Cabinet Affairs.

Improving the quality of education

According to Dr. Murigande, the term “quality education” is often used without a full understanding of what it entails or how to achieve it. He likened it to preparing a meal, where quality ingredients are essential for success. In education, the most crucial “ingredient” is the teacher.

'A well-trained, passionate teacher who views teaching as a calling, and is equipped with the necessary tools, can have a significant impact. Even under challenging conditions, a great teacher can deliver excellent results,' he emphasized.

Dr. Murigande also highlighted the importance of effective school management, discipline, and student focus as key factors for improving education. Additionally, he pointed out the impact of teacher-to-student ratios, noting that smaller class sizes allow for more individualized attention, leading to better outcomes.

He challenged the notion that Rwanda’s education system was better in the past, explaining that such comparisons are flawed. For example, Rwanda once had only 50,000 secondary school students in total, meaning that only 5% of primary school graduates advanced to secondary education.

Today, access to secondary education is far more widespread, and the top 5% of current graduates are just as competitive globally as their counterparts from prestigious universities like Cambridge and Oxford.

'What has shaped people’s perception of declining education quality is the democratization of education. As more students enter the system, not all have the same abilities. Our focus now should be on raising the capabilities of all students going through the system,' he stated.

Dr. Murigande suggested several measures to address these challenges, including ensuring that all teachers are well-qualified. He acknowledged that while progress cannot be made overnight, improving teacher quality is essential for long-term success.

He also reflected on past practices where lower-performing students were often channeled into teacher training, but noted that the Ministry of Education has corrected this, now admitting top-performing students into the profession.

Although there are still teachers who entered the system before these reforms, Dr. Murigande advocated for additional training to improve their skills and ensure they can meet today’s educational demands.

Leadership changes in the Ministry of Education

Dr. Murigande also discussed why the Ministry of Education has experienced frequent leadership changes, with 17 ministers serving in the last 30 years, including the most recent appointment of Joseph Nsengimana.

He attributed these changes to the government’s recognition of education as a cornerstone for national development. 'No development is possible without quality education, which produces individuals capable of addressing the country’s challenges and implementing solutions,' he noted.

Given education’s critical role, Dr. Murigande explained that when expectations are not met, the government doesn’t wait passively for improvements. Instead, it acts swiftly, changing leadership in hopes of finding new approaches to deliver better results.

While acknowledging that leadership changes can sometimes cause short-term disruption, Dr. Murigande views them as calculated risks.

'You could leave things as they are, but that might not lead to progress. Change, though disruptive at first, can often bring about the faster results we need once the right solutions are found,' he observed.

Dr. Murigande has discussed efforts needed to enhance Rwanda’s quality education.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/education/article/dr-murigande-discusses-efforts-needed-to-enhance-rwanda-s-quality-education

German police have sealed off downtown Cologne amid reports of an explosion; officials have asked motorists to avoid the area in a post on X (formerly Twitter). So far, authorities have not revealed any details as to the nature of the blast or whether it has caused any casualties.

Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger newspaper originally speculated that the incident may have taken place at Vanity Club.

A reporter at the scene told his colleagues that the blast had apparently taken place outside a shopping mall and the aforementioned nightclub.
T-online media outlet quoted a police spokeswoman as relaying that the explosion had happened at around 6am outside an unidentified building.

Radio Köln, in turn, claimed that one person had sustained mild injuries as a result of the incident and has been taken to hospital. The explosion also reportedly led to a fire, which had been extinguished by the time firefighters arrived.

In its message on X, police have said they will post more details later on as the investigation at the site is underway.

The post Explosion reported in downtown Cologne appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/explosion-reported-in-downtown-cologne/

Kiev is preparing a false flag operation, in which a children's hospital or kindergarten could be hit by a supposed Russian missile strike, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has claimed.

The 'inhumane provocation' is being masterminded by the leaders of Ukrainian intelligence and the military at the advice of 'US handlers,' the statement said on Monday. The goal is to cause a large number of casualties and publicize the event through the international media, the agency added.

Kiev hopes that its plot will help justify long-range strikes using Western weapons deep inside Russia, the SVR believes. The US would then use the incident to ramp up pressure on Iran and North Korea for supposedly providing ballistic missiles to Russia, the agency said.

On July 8, Kiev accused Moscow of deliberately targeting the Okhmatdet children's hospital in central Kiev during a large-scale missile barrage. Interior Minister Igor Klimenko reported that two adults were killed in the incident, and 32 people including children were injured.

Moscow denied the Ukrainian allegations, reiterating that it never targets civilian facilities. The Russian military suggested that Ukrainian air defense operators were to blame.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at the time that Kiev was using the tragedy to hype up the participation of Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky at the NATO summit in the US. He pointed to a pattern of high-profile incidents, similar to the Okhmatdet bombing, occurring before Zelensky's meetings with senior foreign officials.

'The Zelensky clique disregards the lives of the Ukrainian children that it puts in harm's way,' the SVR said. It cited a number of 'bloody provocations' over the course of the conflict, adding that after those, 'few people in the world believe that Moscow is 'insidious' and Kiev is 'innocent'.'

Zelensky is set to travel to the US to meet President Joe Biden, and the two presidential nominees for the November election — Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. He intends to share with them his so-called 'victory plan,' a four-point roadmap which he believes will allow Ukraine to end the conflict with Russia on its own terms. Continued US military support and permission to conduct strikes deep inside Russia with Western weapons is understood to be crucial for his plan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow will consider any such attacks to be direct aggression by NATO members, and would react accordingly. Moscow considers the Ukraine conflict to be a US-led proxy war against Russia.

The post Ukraine planning false flag attack — Russian intelligence appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/ukraine-planning-false-flag-attack-russian-intelligence/

An alleged assassination attempt was made on September 15 on US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in the city of West Palm Beach in the state of Florida. According to the former US President, he is unharmed and safe.

Circumstances of incident

— The shooting occurred near the golf club where the former president played golf.

— A US Secret Service agent responsible for protecting the nation's top leaders, including presidential candidates and former heads of state, fired at a suspicious armed man who was near the club's grounds.

— The suspect initially managed to escape by hiding in the bushes outside the golf club.

— The suspect was later apprehended by police and is now in custody.

— A Kalashnikov assault rifle (AK-47) with a telescopic sight, two backpacks with ceramic plates and an action camera were found where the suspect was hiding.

— According to Fox News, the alleged assailant slipped the barrel of the rifle through the fence of the golf club. At the same time he was at a distance of 270-450 meters from Trump.

Alleged attacker

— Fox News reported, citing sources, that the suspect's name was Ryan Wesley Routh.

— Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (Republican) posted on her X page a photo of the alleged attacker, saying that he may be obsessed with the conflict in Ukraine.

— The New York Post reported that Routh traveled to Ukraine and supported the Kiev authorities.

— According to the newspaper, Routh tried to promote the idea of sending American veterans of the conflict in Afghanistan to Ukraine and also expressed a desire to fight on Kiev's side. According to the MSN News outlet, Routh was also involved in fundraising for Ukraine.

— The media found a report on a Semafor news outlet in 2023, which introduced a man named Ryan Routh as 'the head of the International Volunteer Center in Ukraine, a private organization which helps foreigners seeking to assist the war effort connect with military units and aid groups.' In an interview with the news outlet, Routh said he had met with representatives of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.

Possible assassination attempt

— The Federal Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation, and is looking into what happened as a possible assassination attempt on Trump.

— Earlier, Trump said that no one was injured in the incident.

— US leader Joe Biden and US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris were informed about the incident.

— Trump, according to the Associated Press, returned to his Mar-a-Lago residence, which is about five kilometers from the golf club.

— The shooting incident outside Trump's golf club comes about two months after an assassination attempt on the politician at a rally in Pennsylvania.

The post What is known about alleged assassination attempt on Trump appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/what-is-known-about-alleged-assassination-attempt-on-trump/

The crews of Russia's Ka-52M helicopters have delivered a strike on Ukrainian military personnel and hardware in a borderline district of the Kursk Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

'Army aviation crews on Ka-52M helicopters have delivered a strike with aviation munitions on Ukrainian troops and armored hardware in a borderline district of the Kursk Region,' it said in a statement.

It noted that, having eliminated Ukrainian troops and military hardware, the crews returned safely to their home base.

The post Russia's Ka-52M helicopters wipe out Ukrainian troops in borderline Kursk Region appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/russias-ka-52m-helicopters-wipe-out-ukrainian-troops-in-borderline-kursk-region/

The Head of State made these remarks during a Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast organized by the Rwanda Leaders Fellowship (RLF) at the Kigali Convention Centre.

The event, held under the theme 'Foundations of a Grateful Nation,' brought together religious leaders, non-governmental organizations, and government officials to express gratitude for Rwanda’s recent peaceful elections.

Kagame was re-elected as RPF Inkotanyi’s presidential candidate during the July elections this year with 99.18% of the vote, securing another five-year term.

During the thanksgiving event, he extended his appreciation to the organizers and acknowledged the peaceful and smooth conduct of the electoral process, expressing thanks to everyone involved.

Reflecting on the essence of thanksgiving, Kagame observed that it should be intertwined with genuine satisfaction.

“Thanksgiving cannot be an end in itself; it involves a sense of satisfaction. Satisfaction means that everything you expected or desired has been fulfilled. We should express gratitude in a way that reflects our genuine satisfaction with what we are thankful for,” he said.

Kagame also stressed the importance of aligning three key elements—spiritual, political, and cultural aspects—for a nation to stand firm.

He explained that these three elements were essential in rebuilding Rwanda after its darkest moments.

'For Rwanda to recover and reach where it is today, it was through the combination of these three elements. If we are in a good place today, it is because we effectively combined them,' he stated.

The President further clarified that, unlike other nations where religion may intertwine with politics or culture, Rwanda maintains distinct but complementary roles for these elements.

'If we are not careful and fail to understand how these elements should work together to bring positive results, we will face problems,' he warned.

The President cautioned against overstepping boundaries in politics, religion, or culture, noting that Rwanda’s tragic history of extremism was caused by crossing such limits. He advised that simplicity in handling these domains can lead to achieving goals with greater ease.

Kagame also called attention to the exploitation of the public in the name of religion, stressing the need to guard against scammers under religious pretexts. He reaffirmed the importance of religious values while underscoring that such values should not be manipulated for personal gain.

The Rwanda Leaders Fellowship, an organization committed to instilling Godly values in leadership, expressed its own gratitude during the event.

Moses Ndahiro, Chairman of RLF, praised the peaceful elections that allowed Rwandans to freely vote for their leader, and thanked the participants for their attendance at the prayer breakfast.

Preacher Lambert Bariho, another RLF member, highlighted the importance of maintaining a culture of thanksgiving even in challenging times.

Drawing from the Bible, specifically Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians 5:16-18, Bariho reminded attendees of the biblical teaching , stressing that gratitude should not only be reserved for times of abundance but also during challenges, as there is always something to be thankful for, no matter the circumstances.

Bariho expressed optimism for Rwanda’s future, asserting that the country, under President Kagame’s leadership, has moved past its darkest days, and that the challenges ahead will never again compare to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

President Paul Kagame has highlighted that gratitude should not be a mere formality, noting that true thanksgiving stems from a personal contribution and alignment with one’s expectations.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/thanksgiving-should-reflect-genuine-satisfaction-president-kagame

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz ruled out supplying Ukraine with long-range weapons in the future, as he fielded questions from people in the east of the country.

Speaking to a gathering of people in the city of Prenzlau, he reiterated his refusal to provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles over concerns that could seriously escalate the situation.

'I said 'no' to that,' Scholz said, the DPA news service reported.

According to the chancellor, permission for Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia would be a problem and he won't allow that.

'This also applies to other weapons, if we were to supply them, that could strike at such a long distance,' Scholz said. 'That's the way it will remain.'

'That's why I'm holdng on to my position, even if other countries decide otherwise,' he continued. 'I will not do that because I consider it a problem.'

Commenting on reports that the United States could lift the existing restrictions, he noted that not all assumptions are correct. Previously, the White House, following a meeting between US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, did not announce that Washington greenlighted strikes with Western weapons deep inside Russian territory.

Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier told reporters that Ukraine is unable to deliver strikes inside Russian territory without Western assistance because it needs satellite intelligence and flight input data to do so. According to the president, the current debate among NATO countries is not just about Kiev's potential use of Western long-range weapons, but also whether to get directly involved in the Ukrainian conflict. Putin said Moscow would respond to threats that would be created for Russia.

The post Scholz says he won't allow Ukraine to use German weapons for strikes deep inside Russia appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/scholz-says-he-wont-allow-ukraine-to-use-german-weapons-for-strikes-deep-inside-russia/

The Russian Aerospace Forces downed two Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets in 24 hours, the Defense Ministry reported.

'The Russian Aerospace Forces downed two Su-27 fighter jets of Ukraine's air forces in 24 hours,' the report said.

Russian army hits railroad train with foreign weapons in special military operation zone

Operational/tactical aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as artillery and missile troops of the Russian armed forces destroyed a railroad train carrying foreign weapons, as well as a facility on production of components for short-range ballistic missiles in the area of the special military operation in 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

'A railroad train with foreign weapons and a missile/artillery armament depot were destroyed,' the ministry said, adding that troops and military equipment of the Ukrainian army were hit in 148 regions.

The post Russian forces destroy two Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets in 24 hours — defense ministry appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/russian-forces-destroy-two-ukrainian-su-27-fighter-jets-in-24-hours-defense-ministry/

Ukraine could be ready to freeze hostilities with Russia on certain parts of the frontline, the German tabloid newspaper Bild has said, citing what it claims to be Vladimir Zelensky's revised strategy. The Ukrainian leader's vision for the conflict also reportedly hinges on Western backers allowing Kiev to use the long-range missiles they have provided, to hit targets deep inside Russia.

Back in July, Russian President Vladimir Putin made it clear that Moscow was not interested in a 'ceasefire or some kind of pause that the Kiev regime could use to recover losses, regroup, and rearm.'

'Russia is in favor of a complete and final end of the conflict,' Putin said at the time.

A month earlier, the Russian head of state proposed an immediate ceasefire on the condition that Ukraine give legally binding guarantees that it will not seek to join NATO, and withdraw its troops from all territories claimed by Russia. Kiev and its Western backers were quick to dismiss this roadmap.

In an article on Saturday, Bild claimed that Zelensky plans to travel to the US in the coming weeks and present his revised strategy to President Joe Biden as well as Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and her Republican rival, Donald Trump.

According to the German media outlet, the main points include a 'demand to be allowed to deploy Western long-range weapons deep inside Russia, as well as Ukraine's readiness to accept local ceasefires along certain portions of the front, and thus a provisional freezing of the situation.'

Last month, Zelensky revealed his intention to present his 'victory plan' to the US head of state in September. He suggested that the plan likely involved asking the US for more funds and weapons, saying that victory would depend on whether Washington gives Kiev 'what is in this plan.'

On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed European diplomats, reported that earlier in the day US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy had told Ukrainian officials behind closed doors that a 'full Ukrainian victory would require the West to provide hundreds of billions of dollars worth of support, something neither Washington nor Europe can realistically do.' Kiev is allegedly being urged to 'come up with a more realistic plan.'

Since the start of the conflict in February 2022, Zelensky has publicly insisted on the restoration of Ukraine's 1991 borders, which would include Crimea, either through military or diplomatic means. Moscow says that Kiev must accept the 'reality on the ground,' and that the issue of Crimea is 'not up for discussion.'

The post Ukraine ready for ceasefire in certain areas — Bild appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/ukraine-ready-for-ceasefire-in-certain-areas-bild/

An agreement for the Netherlands to provide Ukraine with a full Patriot air defense system has fallen through after an unnamed ally working with the country backed out, local media reported.

In June, the Netherlands announced that it would provide radar and launch components for a Patriot system, and that it had found another country to provide the additional necessary parts.

The radar components provided by the Netherlands were recently transferred, NL Times reported on Sept 13., but it is still in discussions to find the remaining parts from other countries.

A spokesperson for the Dutch Defense Ministry told the news outlet that 'the Ministry was 'recently' informed 'that the previously mentioned commitment by an ally is not being honored.'

Kyiv has been calling on its partners to provide additional air defense assets as Russia intensifies its strikes against cities and energy infrastructure.

Ukraine received its first Patriot battery from the U.S. in the first half of 2023.

With more batteries arriving since then, the U.S.' most advanced anti-air system has proved crucial in protecting the sky from Russian attacks.

The post Netherlands unable to fulfill complete Patriot delivery after unnamed partner backs out, media reports appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/netherlands-unable-to-fulfill-complete-patriot-delivery-after-unnamed-partner-backs-out-media-reports/