NUR MBA students petition rector over delayed graduation

Students pursuing a Masters programme in agro-forestry and soil management in the faculty of agriculture at the National University of Rwanda have petitioned the rector of the university for not graduating for the second year running. Graduation is due next month and the students in this faculty are uncertain about their graduation because none of them has seen the results of their thesis, while others are yet to submit them. Over 30 students in two intakes, 2007 and 2008, are likely to miss this year’s graduation having missed out on last year’s event as well. In a letter to the rector, Prof. Silas Lwakabamba, a copy of which was seen by The New Times, the students wrote thus: “…we are again coming to you to request your assistance. Please, if you are working for the nation and particularly for the development of NUR, free us from Dean’s hands. “Up to now nobody has presented his thesis and the worst is that the Registrar cannot give us ‘to whom it may concern’ letters because the faculty did not submit our marks while deliberation took place in February; we have claimed our right but we got nothing”. Due to the absence of a timetable, some students have submitted their thesis and are not yet evaluated while others are still not sure if they can go ahead with their research after being discouraged by those ahead of them who are yet to graduate. “While other students in various faculties have graduated, in agro-forestry and soil management, it’s been two years now and the school especially the Dean seem not bothered,” said one of the affected students who preferred not to be mentioned. Students say that they have tried to settle the issue with Daniel Rukazambuga, the Dean of the faculty in vain, thus the decision to petition the rector. Some students claim they have been at the academic institution for five years which is longer than the two years scheduled for a Masters programme. However, in a letter that Rukazambuga wrote in response to the students’ claims, he blamed them for being unserious and confusing issues. “Those who did not graduate it’s their mistake. Some of them had full-time funding and paid the supervisor, Dr Nemeye. They refused to take study leave to concentrate on their studies. You cannot study full-time and work full-time. So where is your basis to make such a challenge,” reads the dean’s response. However, Esron Munyanziza, the coordinator of the agro-forestry and soil management programme, said it’s not only this faculty that is facing the problem but other faculties as well. “Some students are to blame for this because they are full-time students while they work full-time, too; so their attendance record is low,” said Munyanziza. “How can you say attendance is the problem for all the students in two consecutive years,” one of the affected students hit back.. “The university should tell us if there is any single student who is going to graduate this year including those they think did attend regularly in our course,” asked one student leader in one of the faculties, on condition of anonymity. Munyanziza said that other affected faculties include the science and management. “M.Sc. is not given to people who are not serious,” added the Dean. alex.ngarambe@newtimes.co.rw