• UNILAK cleared to award degrees

PARLIAMENT - The plan to introduce English as the official medium of instruction in all schools in the country, government institutions and the private sector is on the right track and should be completed by the end of 2012.

This was revealed by the Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education, Theoneste Mutsindashyaka while addressing the just concluded 6th National dialogue held at Parliament.

"2009 is the year of English. I want to assure you that by the end of next year, intensive teaching and adoption of English in all schools and government institutions will be complete and the next two years will be for self assessment and evaluation,” said Mutsindashyaka, in response to a query raised by the Ombudsman, Tito Rutaremara, on whether the transition to English as a language of instruction could not be achieved in one year.

Mutsindashyaka said that schools have already started conducting lessons in English and current research done by the Ministry of Education shows that the children have already coped and can fluently speak the language.

"I was recently in Kampala attending the Uganda- Rwanda Education Expo where a young boy in Primary Four from Burera, Northern Province gave a presentation in fluent English to the amazement of all. Our children can now speak the language of prosperity,” said Mutsindashyaka, drawing laughter from the audience.

Among other things, the Minister said that the plan to replace all French textbooks used in Primary and Secondary schools is also near completion, with all science and mathematics books already in English.

Mutsindashyaka also revealed that all teachers in the country, beginning with Primary teachers will go through a rotational English training programme in order to equip them with necessary language skills which they will in turn pass on to the young ones.

In the same development, the Ministry of Education has organised flexible English courses for Government workers and other employed persons to study at their own convenience and in shifts. This is because beginning with next year, all government institutions will be required to conduct meetings and write their reports in English.

Mutsindashyaka also took time to dismiss claims that the introduction of English by the Government of Rwanda as a medium of instruction in schools was a deliberate move to dismiss French. He said that English is inline and part of Rwanda’s plan to integrate with the rest of World, as a means of fueling economic growth and development.

He cited the current East African Community which Rwanda chairs as an example, saying that it would be almost impossible for Rwanda to chair such a regional body where member States are all English speaking.

"English is spoken globally in development circles, ICT, trade, among others, and it is also a tool of integration. We don’t want to be left behind,” argued Mutsindashyaka.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Daphrose Gahakwa said that even University and College lecturers will also be required to lecture in English and that  this has already started in various institutions.

She also clarified on the position of Universite Laique Adventiste de Kigali (UNILAK), saying that it was cleared by the Ministry and the National Council of Higher Education to award degrees as a Institution of High Learning but not as a university, though the degrees awarded will be valued as University degrees.

She explained that UNILAK could not achieve University Status because it has fewer faculties than those required by the National Council of Higher Education.

"As we know, UNILAK has only two faculties; Law and Economics (Management) and the current law does not qualify it to be a University, but what I can assure you is that the transcripts awarded are degrees and qualify to compete favourably with other degrees offered by Universities,” said Gahakwa, attracting deafening applause.

The long awaited accreditation of UNILAK comes as a relief to many as it had been feared that over 450 students who have had their future hanging in balance would lose out if the Government didn’t approve the University established 10 years ago. 

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