Parents must take the lead in their children’s university education

Editor,Refer to the story, “Varsity education funding: What are the alternatives?” (The New Times, November 11).Indeed, I think that the government cannot afford to offer tuition fee to all the students. Alternative solutions are vital and we are actually late on this. Parents should put to rest the old mindset of bearing so many children that they would never be able to support financially – let alone giving them an education. They should take 99 steps when it comes to the upbringing as well as education of their children.The government should only come in to take the remaining one step.It’s true that saving a lot of money is quite hard in this financially challenging world, but it’s wise to start saving now, from the little you have, for the school fees of your children.We have to be thankful for the government for the “universal education” where a child finishes primary education with parents paying practically nothing. Even though it remains work in progress, these efforts constitute the backbone of any country desperate to emerge out of poverty.We’ve laid the cornerstone to eradicate illiteracy in Rwanda, and that’s working.This is the reason why parents should take advantage of that time – which is nine years – to prepare to take over once their children reach upper secondary and tertiary education. By the time your child will be leaving the nine-year basic education, you’ll surely be able to take care of the remaining part.Parents should also teach their children about financial literacy at a tender age. They should grow up being acquainted with savings and planning for their future. Instead of giving them coins for candies, educate them about savings.The Association of Microfinance Institute of Rwanda (AMIR) is doing a good job. They have some tips on how a child can start saving at an early age. Some youth tried it and they are now breeding pigs, rabbits and, for sure, they will never again have to drop out school over tuition fees.Why can’t this be another homegrown solution? It is high time we learn how to give back to the country.I don’t think that the government doesn’t recognise the current economic challenges, but as the Minister of Education said, nowhere – not even here in US, the world’s superpower – tertiary education is free.Another thing the writer did not mention in the story is the issue of donors. Rwanda is promoting the self-sustainability of the country, but we still need the third party to intervene in our country’s development. However, for tertiary education, we must know that there are not many who are interested. Take the donors’ initiatives oriented into improving the nine year basic education programme, and compare with what goes to the tertiary education, and then it will give you an idea. As I said earlier, there are alternatives and we, the parents, are able to put them in motion.Clément Mugisha, United States

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Parents must take the lead in their children’s university education