All students must be taught Rwandan values because they hold the key to national cohesion due to the influence they wield in communities upon completing their studies, the chairman of the National Itorero Commission, Boniface Rucagu has said.

Rucagu said that people who planned the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and influenced others to execute it, include those with higher education—making university students the primary targeted for inculcation of positive values.

He was speaking during the launch of National Service (Itorero) and related community work activities (urugerero) by University of Rwanda’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences.

"Once they (students) graduate, they are the first powerful tools to reach and serve the community in terms of positive values, health and social support,” he said.

Community activities at college include commitment to help people using professional skills in health as well as welfare support to the most vulnerable. Values of the college include teaching, research and service to the community.

" Our performance contracts in itorero are educating people for example on eradicating malnutrition, good hygiene, health insurance, prevent disease as well as treating those around the campuses” said Rutayisire Frank, one of the students.

He said that the college and its campuses across the country have been carrying out some of these activities such as giving cows to vulnerable people, counseling and treating the sick as well as community work.

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Sharon Haba urged other institutions that constitute the University of Rwanda to emulate the College of Medicine and Health Sciences by launching their own itorero and urugerero programmes.

She said that doctors need to learn Rwandan positive values to enable them serve the nation better.

National service was officially launched at the University of Rwanda in October last year by the Prime Minister, Anastase Murekezi. The programme is in line with government’s objectives to make Rwanda a self-reliant and dignified country.

Students are urged to combine positive Rwandan cultural values with skills learnt at school to be successful.

Such values call for patriotism, love for one another, hard work, heroism, commitment and integrity.