Close to 600 students at the National University of Rwanda (NUR) risk facing tough measures for failing to register in time, a top official at the university yesterday said. 

In an interview with The New Times, the NUR Rector, Silas Lwakabamba explained that all the students had the chance to register within a particular period of time but some did not utilize the chance and will face the consequences.

"We took time to inform students about the registration deadline, however some did not abide by it…some have reasons that they were outside the country, but all of those who failed to register will have to write and appeal or pay fines.

"This (NUR) is an institution; it does not operate like a village. There are rules and regulations that must be followed and failure to do so results into particular repercussions,” a seemingly furious Lwakabamba noted.

A private student who preferred anonymity said that about 600 students failed to beat the deadline because the registration is too short and comes immediately after the second semester, a time when most self-sponsored students are still working hard to raise fees.

"Frankly I would have paid in time if only I had the Rwf265,000 at the time. It is not easy to raise that amount by mid December, just a few weeks after the second semester has closed. My plea is that we should at least clear in the first week of January,” she told The New Times. 

Meanwhile the students that have been denied registration say that they are currently waiting for the Academic Senate to decide whether they pay fines or register a dead year.

The Rector however did not mention the issue of a dead year as an option but maintained that students with sound excuses will be allowed to register only after they file an appeal while those with irrelevant explanations will be charged a certain fine that is yet to be disclosed.

Efforts to reach members of Academic Senate were futile by press time. NUR is a state-owned institution with close to 10,000 students.

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