KIGALI - As part of the efforts geared towards deepening regional integration, the East African Community (EAC) will soon submit findings on how education systems in the region can be harmonised.

The findings, according to EAC Affairs Minister, Monique Mukaruliza, will be presented during the last round of the Common Market negotiations scheduled for Kampala later this month.

The EAC secretariat hired the Inter University Council for East Africa to conduct the study in the trading bloc’s five partner states. 

She said the findings will dwell mostly on how to harmonise education systems and having mutual recognition of professional qualifications.

Once harmonised, this will mean that Rwandan students can comfortably continue with their education in any academic institution in the region.

It also implies that those who completed their studies in Rwanda and are working can favourably compete for employment with their regional counterparts.

Mukaruliza, said that while in Kampala, the report will be forwarded to the EAC Multi Sectoral Council which will submit to the High Level Task Force (HTLF) before its final submission to the Heads of State summit slated for November.  

On general harmonization of policies, the minister said that there are on-going efforts by a team from the Ministry of Justice to have different legislations harmonised.

"There is a team made up of people from the Ministry of Justice that is working on the harmonisation of laws. It also comprises delegates from partner states,” the Minister added.

Mukaruliza also disclosed that Rwanda has already registered two big roads to be considered in the EAC regional road network plan.

The roads include; the northern corridor and the central corridor. The Northern Corridor road stretches from Mombasa to Rwanda via Kampala to DRC while the Central Corridor comes from Dar es Salaam through Rusumo to Kigali and Bujumbura. 

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