How Rwanda Is Fixing Holes In Education Sector, a KT Press Report

    KIGALI, RWANDA, August 06, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Mugabekazi Julie, 54, cannot believe that she is a teacher today, because the previous regimes had denied her a chance to pursue education.

In 1968 she joined Kivumu primary school in Kamonyi district, Southern Rwanda.

However, under previous regimes it was impossible for Mugabekazi to qualify for college because of a discriminatory policy. Tutsi were restricted the opportunity to pursue Primary education.

"I was declared 'fail' three times," she tells KT Press. "I think the ministry of education allowed me to pass after they had understood I did not want to give up".

Alphonse Kamali, a retired civil servant with ministry of education says MDR-Parmehutu, then ruling party "had given us (education ministry) discriminatory guidelines."

Under the "Quota System", MDR had determined the number of students that had to pass national examinations depending on the regions they hailed from.

Mugabekazi was stuck when she graduated with distinction (80%) at GS Scolaire Rwaza college, Northern Province in 1982. She was denied scholarship to university even after applying for three consecutive years.

This was the fate of many Tutsi until 1994 when the Rwanda Patriotic Front-Inkotanyi overthrew the regime. Since then, education has been accessible for all.

Enrollment increased to 95% today, from 60% in 1980 thanks to the Twelve Year Basic Education initiative which provides access to free college education. Universities have increased to 31 from only one in 1960.

In 2009, Mugabekazi joined Kigali Independent University of Lay Adventists, worked hard and scored the highest grade, proudly beating 500 students in her graduating class.

Between 1994 and 2015, the number of students under government scholarship increased from 3000 to 80,000 and from 33 to 4000 in local and foreign universities at Rwf80 billion ($104 million) scholarship.

About 300 graduates from Gakenke district, on August 3rd praised President Paul Kagame. They all graduated under his leadership.

Kagame's two legal terms expire in 2017. However, 4 million Rwandans have petitioned parliament to amend the constitution to keep Kagame as their president.

Meanwhile, with less than 500,000 graduates representing 4.2% in a population of 12 million, the country needs at least 1,200,000 million graduates (10% of population).

Read the full article here: http://ktpress.rw/how-rwanda-is-fixing-holes-in-education-sector-2761/

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