EASTERN PROVINCE

NGOMA — Former Information Minister Prof. Laurent Nkusi, has been appointed the vice-Rector in charge of academic affairs at the University of Agriculture, Technology and Education in Kibungo (UNATEK).

In the new appointments announced last week, 14 other permanent lecturers were employed during the restructuring process; five of them Phd holders while others are  masters degree holders.

They include former vice rector of the university of Kabgayi Prof. Nyagahene and Prof. Karemera Marembo a former lecturer at the National University of Rwanda (NUR).

The appointments came as part of the university’s restructuring system as required by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).

Between March 3rd and 7th this year, officials from NCHE visited the University to assess its status as it seeks full accreditation.

Among the issues raised was lack of permanent academic staff as required by NCHE. The university had only 35 permanent lecturers about 40% contrary to 70% required by NCHE.

"We therefore made this move in order  to fulfill the requirements  of the NCHE as we were requested in their report of their previous visit,” Father Dominique Karekezi told The New Times in an interview.

"These lecturers bring the number to the maximum as required by NCHE and for now  what I can say is we no longer need to worry.” Among the newly contracted academic staff  are two Kenyans and a Nigerian.

Karekezi said this is in line with the Ministry of Education’s newly introduced modular system which will be effected as from next year, in which English will be used as the language of instruction in all subjects. Currently students in the first year only use English as the language of instruction.

"And this can and will be easily accomplished since we have a maximum number of lecturers needed,” Karekezi said.

Karekezi further added that their only remaining worry is the unresolved issue of the land title for the university.

"This was another issue discussed when NCHE officials visited us and its really affecting the drive to  full accreditation,” he said. The land currently belongs to the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI). This outstanding issue has not been sorted out for quite some time now.

In 2003 during the Presidential campaign in Rwinkwavu Kayonza district, President Paul Kagame, instructed  the then minister of agriculture to speed up the process of the land title transfer to the university.

Meanwhile, officials from UNATEK yesterday met with the Minister of agriculture, Christopher Bazivamo. Sources say that the transfer issue  topped the agenda of the meeting.

"He promised to instruct the Minister of Infrastructure to grant us the title as soon as possible and we are looking forward to this development,” Karekezi said.

Since its inception in 2003 with an initial batch of 350 students, UNATEK now has expanded its intake to accommodate 3,650 students.

Close to 1,000 students have also completed their studies but are yet to graduate since the university has no full accreditation.

Ends