Students decry university closure

Students of Community Integrated Polytechnic (CIP) have expressed their worries following the closure of the university for failure to fulfill requirements. The Workforce Development Authority recently ordered the university to close its doors until it fulfills the requirements. More than 800 students were affected by the decision. “I enrolled in this university because of proximity and I thought it had no problem since they had publicly announced about the university’s opening. With this closure after just a few months, we don’t know what is next,” Said Nsengimana, a first year ICT student, said. “We have been studying theories and waiting to start practical lessons, but we were told that the university was closed,” Yassin Nsengimana Ntwali said. “We were told the university was accredited, but imagine we paid fees yet we are not studying. I think the Ministry of Education and WDA should revise procedures for opening colleges.” JMV Uwimana, a Business Cooperatives and Entrepreneurship student, said the polytechnic should work with the Ministry of Education and WDA to settle the dilemma so students can resume studies. She said it is not fair for students to be affected by “leadership errors.” Accreditation This paper could not readily reach CIP officials over the matter as the known telephone contacts were switched off. Prof. Philip Brierley, the CIP principal, in a May 6 letter to students, said the campus had been closed for lack of accreditation. The letter said students will be recalled after the accreditation is issued. The closure also affects affiliated campuses in Kayonza, Nyagatare, and Gatsibo districts. Jerome Gasana, the WDA director-general, said the university has no accreditation to operate in the country. “They (CIP officials) came to ask for permission to operate and we okayed them in principle, but asked them to first fulfill all requirements such as classes and training materials. That was in December, but they ignored that and started enrolling students,” said Gasana.

National

Students decry university closure