Editor,

I WISH to react to the article, "Ubudehe: Can perception determine poverty levels?” (The New Times, June 3).

The single most crucial reform of the Ubudehe programme relates to university students whose families fall in Categories 3 or 4.

Students in those categories are eligible for loans only up to 50% of the full annual cost of about Rwf850,000 to attend university. So, that means that such a family must find at least Rwf400,000 to support a student for each year in university. This amount is simply too large for most of the people in Category 3 and many of the people in Category 4.

The result is that some of our most promising students who have already overcome significant hurdles to attend and graduate from secondary school and excel in the national exams will not be able to attend university.

This is such a tragic waste of Rwanda’s most precious human capital.

Peter, Rwanda

****************************

I THANK you for the story. This debate was very much needed and is maybe long overdue.

This can only lead to a better solution than the current one. However, now it is time to move to a solution that is fairer and channels support to people who need it the most.

I could not help but notice there is no middle class in the current system. Category 4 (resourceful poor) to Category 5 (food rich)...poor are still poor, even if resourceful.

John, Rwanda