Anxiety over change in rules as Rwanda's university admissions near

By Rodrigue Rwirahira Rwanda Today
Posted Friday, February 28 2014 at 20:00
IN SUMMARY
Students have expressed concern, including fear of confusion in the
admissions process, but experts and government officials believe the
exercise will be smooth.
Education experts have applauded the government's move on new
admission procedures for students joining university, but called for
proper management in the upcoming intake.
Selection of students joining university was previously done by the
Joint Admission Board (JAB), a body within Rwanda Education Board
(REB), but recent reforms mean that institutions will now take charge.
Students have expressed concern, including fear of confusion in the
admissions process, but experts and government officials believe the
exercise will be smooth.
"We fear this might provide room for bribery in case a parent is
acquainted with the principal of an institution," said Valens
Shirangabo, a Senior Six leaver.
However, experts in the sector commended the move saying it will spur
competition among schools and at the same time improve the quality of
education.
ALSO READ: Mixed reactions greet reforms in higher education sector
Make ultimate choices
According to Oscar Bahizi, a vice-rector at the Institute of Legal
Practice and Development, the move is good and will offers a chance to
parents and students to make their ultimate choices on which options
to undertake.
Recently, the government resolved to merge all public universities
into one but allowed the former institutions to retain their
respective disciplines and faculties.
READ: Institutes of higher learning to merge with University of Rwanda
"It is no longer the scholarship," said Mr Bahizi. "We are likely to
see schools wanting to enrol the best students; of course they will
set varying criteria, thus we expect at least good quality of
education in the future."
Mr Bahizi however stated that it was the government's responsibility
to ensure the transition was done properly by making sure all
respective institutions possess strong systems and facilities to avoid
disorder.
"Initially, it might be confusing for students, but schools will need
to have stronger IT systems in place and enforce their human resource
capacity to deal with admission pressure," he added.
Louise Karamage, head of the National Higher Education Student Loan
Department (HESLD), told Rwanda Today
that the government was mulling more regulations for quality education
while encouraging parents to take charge of their children's tertiary
education.
ALSO READ: Surging varsity enrolment in EAC pushes down standards
No more JAB
"There will be no Joint Admission Board to send the lists of selected
students to University of Rwanda or other higher learning
institutions; all admissions will be done by institutions, and we
expect the exercise to be finalised by June," she said, adding that
this will allow the loan application process to commence early.
According to officials, the yet-to-be-enrolled students will now have
to individually apply to be admitted to the various institutions and
later apply for government loan from HESLD.
This is unlike in the past when the government determined which
students would be sponsored and who would foot their education bill.
Experts insist that the move might equally relieve the government of
the burden of financing students in varsity programmes which is eating
into its budget and does not drive the country at the same speed with
the other countries in the region.
"If only the government would just intervene in terms of regulation to
ensure the desired quality of education and leave students and parents
to cater for their tertiary education," Mr Bahizi added.
He urged the government to focus on programmes and facilities.
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