These primary level students will have to take up sciences if they are to be assured of university education, or they will have to score so highly, according to the latest government student bursuries scheme
At the Umutara Polytechnic in the east, some 800 students went through the same process. Similar numbers also reported for university at other places here in Kigali. However, a new criterion for selecting students who qualify for government sponsorship – that is just coming into force this year, does not allow them to benefit from the scheme, according to the Ministry of Education.
Where’s the trouble?
Some 41,000 students completed their Advanced level secondary education in 2008/09 academic year– allowing only 7,672 best performing students eligible for government funding at the different institutions. All these students attended the national solidarity camp or INGANDO – which is a requirement for those joining university.
Around later last year, these students were invited to register at their allocated universities where, for example, they are required to pay about Rwf. 30,000 at the National University of Rwanda.
Then came the next stage of applying for government sponsorship through the Student Finance Agency for Rwanda (SFAR) – which all the selected 7000-plus students went for. The program was introduced in 2006 to manage the government scholarships.
Monday last week was opening day for all the universities and these students reported as normal. With the introduction of the ‘Orientation Week’ for the first time in the country, the students spent last week getting used to the environment they hoped to spend the next several years.
However, SFAR and the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) released a circular to all universities reminding them of the new criteria now in force for accepting students. The stringent criterion adopted in January 2008 by cabinet comes into force this year – thereby affecting hundreds of students.
The problem, according to the students now camped at the National University and Umutara Polytechnic, is that they are getting to know of the latest changes when they are already in school.
“Where do they expect us to go?”, a student is quoted in the Thursday edition of The New Times as saying. “We were told too late. We finished registration and everything and imagine they informed us about this yesterday.”
A stand-off is currently ongoing at the two institutions as students say they will not leave the premises and officials there want them out immediately or they call in the security forces.
Only sciences?
The new system of bursaries sets up the criteria for awarding loans and bursaries to students. They include the requirement of distinction (above 70%) in science and technology subjects because of the particular need for well trained students in these areas, according to the policy.
The ratio of cost-sharing between the student and the government: for sciences is 25% student and 75% government. For all others, the ratio is 50%/50%. This essentially means students who were admitted to the universities with social sciences are required to have ‘Grand Distinction’ to qualify for state support.
However, this is not also automatic because if a student is from a well-to-do family, they are required to pay from their own pockets – with costs amounting to about Rwf. 1,5million every year. Through the SFAR application process, government can pay all costs for the top several thousand students from poor families.
MINEDUC says the sophisticated post-secondary education financing scheme takes into account national needs and individual ability to pay, leading to higher enrollment and greater equity through an effective cost sharing system.
Education Minister Dr. Charles Murigande said Wednesday that it is this process that the students did not bother to understand. “They thought by being admitted to university automatically means they will have government sponsorship,” he told the BBC Kinyarwanda service. “That is not the case because the new system caters for mainly science students.”
For Mr. Emmanuel Muvunyi, the Director General of SFAR quoted in The New Times: “The students just failed to draw a line between university admissions and the SFAR scholarship process.”
But the students – some of whom claiming to be coming from poor village families argue they were not given these new guidelines earlier. “We came here knowing school has started and now have to return to our homes”, one says.
“Even the Prime Minister and many other officials studied from the [National University of Rwanda] with no sciences and are just paying back their loans. How then do they expect us to survive in future without education?” wonders another.
RNA reporters at the two institutions say the students are still camped there vowing not to leave the premises until their issue is resolved. University officials say they will call in the security apparatus to force the bitter students away.
Financial crisis?
The Rector of the National University of Rwanda, Prof. Silas Lwakabamba wrote in a circular posted at the camps that the students have no space because the country does not have sufficient resources to take care of their education.
Though the public is not privy to this position, speculation has been rife among the affected students that SFAR, or indeed government is running short of resources. But they say that is not their problem.
Education Minister Dr. Murigande dismissed this suggestion, saying no country has unlimited resources. “The policy on who qualifies for government sponsorship is clear,” he said.
The policy will however, not affect students who are already enrolled at the universities. “All they have to do is ensure they pass from year to year otherwise they also lose the scholarship,” said the Minister
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