Editor,

Refer to Lonzen Rugira’s article, "The Miss Rwanda video clip that tickled” (The New Times, February 24).

I thank the author for the article and for advocating for this young woman who seemed to have nobody bearing with her situation. I also thank him for standing in for our educationalists that seemed to be implicated to a large extent.

However, there are some points that I agree and disagree with Mr Rugira at:

First, one of the courses I mastered very well in my lower secondary was geography. I was taught by a teacher who knew the subject but had language problems. In explaining denudation he said, "Some force did zoooo from one direction and another did huuuuu from the other direction. Two forces met and something did bangaaaaaaaa”, but students were all able to understand what he meant.

Second, we should remember that unlike English, French does not allow language distortion. If you happen to be in Paris, I would advise you to avoid poor French. By doing that you risk to end up deported. She would have completely avoided French if she knew she’s not fluent with the language.

Third, all benchmarks for selection count, however much or less. Miss Rwanda would be referred to as "excellent”, provided she supposedly knew many things and able to explain them. So it does not only matter to master the matter but also the language to explain the matter.

Fourth, there are definitely many to blame but the contestant is number one. If she really mastered Kinyarwanda and knew well she wasn’t fluent in French or English, she would have confidently answered in her mother language and we would then be judging the judges now.

Fifth, parents are also part to blame. Some of them aren’t able to follow up on the education of their children. You’ll find them telling them to go to Google whenever they ask them this and that. There are also kids who spend most of their time on computer games and movies instead of searching to improve their knowledge.

Joseph, New Delhi, India