Editor,

This is in reference to the story, "156 UR students fail English proficiency examination, to repeat academic year” (The New Times, August 8).

Denying these students to graduate is absurd, unfair and wrong. I am reminded of a story I heard some years ago. That until the late eighties, Rwandan secondary school students who passed all subjects with flying colours but failed religion could not graduate. They could actually be sent home for good with no diploma. By then, many schools in Rwanda were controlled by the churches.

Now, my question is: instead of making students repeat a whole year when they have passed all other subjects, why can’t universities instead put their graduation on hold and give them time to study and pass English exam?

Doesn’t the academic council realise that it is a waste of time and resources when they unnecessarily make a student redo subjects they already passed simply because they have not passed English? Why don’t we bother to look at what is done elsewhere?

In other countries, you cannot be made to repeat a subject you have already passed. However, you need to redo that subject you have failed before you can graduate. You are even given enough time to complete those courses and if you wish, you can complete them at any other university of your choice.

I don’t understand why the academic council rules are so rigid. Are they trying to take us back into the eighties?

Kelly

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What a ridiculous decision! How can you make these students waste their time, when English is not even their major programme? Now, can we expect the next step to be that of having to pass an English proficiency test to be able to retain your position in the public sector?

As far I know, English, French and Kinyarwanda are still the official languages in the country; does this mean that English speaking students have to take a French language course, and repeat a year, when they fail the French language test?

Sorry, council members, for your information, you do not force people to learn a language the hard way, just like you are doing. I am not sure who has been advising you on that.

I understand how important English is for our membership in the East African Community, but you should find another way of dealing with that issue.

Have you asked yourself if this had something to do with the teaching method? Well, you should consider your decisions, before we find ourselves in that language war between Francophones and Anglophones in Rwanda.

Dev

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English language is not only important for our membership of the East African Community but is also the most widely spoken language in business worldwide.

Our graduates stand to benefit from such language in the long run especially in business circles or if you intend to pursue further education abroad.

Remember, Rwanda is only a small country but with enormous potential. We could be exporting our bright graduates not only in East Africa but elsewhere in the world.

Even the French government and people have realised the importance of the English language. I am an engineering graduate from Dublin City University and currently a fourth year student in Computer Science.

During my internship, I had to train in French, German, Spanish third level students who came to improve their English language.

Emmanuel Ntibimenya