The ongoing Ugandan universities exhibition in Kigali could not have come at a better time as it reawakens debate over a number of unsettled educational issues within the East African region.During its opening, the Executive Director of the National Council for Higher Education, Prof. Geoffrey Rugege, requested regional universities within the EAC partner states to play a key role towards improving the quality of education.As the issue of integration gathers steam both politically and economically, policy makers seem to have left the education sector in the shade. This is at our own peril though as education is supposed to be a critical ingredient to solidify the gains made in the integration process thus far.More important also is the oft-mentioned subject of research in our universities which continues to be under-funded, yet this could go a long way towards resolving the needs of our nations. Although research grants are clearly a matter of great concern to those within our universities, they do not appear to be of particular concern to our politicians.Hand-in-hand with research is the issue of formulation of a tailor-made curriculum to suit market demands. While governments may be addressing this gradually, it is not at the speed of our liking. There is no doubt that the curriculum needs to change to respond to the changing world of work by imparting employable skills though this should b put into action.The technical and vocational education and training (TVET) policy seems to be one of the few positives drawn from the education sector especially in Rwanda. TVET is however often concerned with empowerment and hence must be looked at through a broader lens than just the labour market.Lastly, the decision by the National University of Rwanda to charge students from the region a uniform fees rate for the last two years serves as an embodiment of an institution’s commitment to a regional cause, which policy makers in the education sector ought to emulate.
