KIGALI - Institutions of higher learning have been given autonomy to determine salaries for their staff depending on the institutions’ financial capacity, it has emerged.

According to the State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Theoneste Mutsindashyaka, the move is aimed at motivating varsity staff and promoting accountability.

"We want the institutions to determine when to increase the salaries for their staff whenever they deem it necessary without our involvement."

He added that tertiary institutions were free to provide any financial incentives to their staff without consulting with the Education ministry, adding that such a practice would help reduce bureaucracy. Mutsindashyaka said last week:

Lack of autonomy was also a way of running away from being accountable, Mutsindashyaka said on phone.

"It will be up to individual institutions to raise the salaries of lecturers without consulting the ministry or following public service standards. That way, they can also increase salaries for hardworking lecturers," he explained.

It is believed that the development will help local tertiary institutions attract and retain qualified academics.

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