Rwanda’s Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimana, has warned that students who bring alcohol or illegal drugs onto school premises face expulsion under the government’s zero-tolerance policy.
Nsengimana issued the warning on August 28 while attending the Gen-Z Comedy show, as Rwanda prepares for the 2026/2027 academic year, which begins on September 7.
He said the government would work with other institutions to prevent alcohol and drug use in schools as part of wider efforts to strengthen discipline and improve the quality of education.
The prohibition applies to everyone within the school community, including students, teachers, head teachers and other employees. Nsengimana stressed that senior government officials would not be exempt from the rule.
“A school must be free of alcohol and drugs. Anyone bringing them onto school premises will be punished immediately,” he said.
The Ministry of Education said anyone found with alcohol at school would face immediate removal, meaning expulsion for students and the applicable disciplinary action for employees.
Nsengimana also called for collective action to protect young people from alcohol and drug abuse, warning that substance use could damage their health and future.
Concerns are particularly focused on some upper-secondary students in Senior Four, Five and Six who may consider themselves independent and become vulnerable to alcohol and drug use during adolescence.
The school measures come as Rwanda intensifies efforts to remove substandard alcoholic beverages and other unsafe products from the market because of the dangers they pose to public health, particularly among young people.
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