NUR cuts sports bursaries for ‘freshers’

The National University of Rwanda (NUR) have dismissed more than 30 students who had been enrolled on sports bursaries for the 2008 in-take, Times Sport can reliably reveal. The decision, according to university officials is aimed at eliminating students illegally benefiting from the scheme. The judgment (to dismiss the students) came after an investigation instituted by UNR Rector Silas Rwakabamba and lasted a full month. Rwakabamba said that the university is no longer in position to give out such bursaries and from now onwards the scheme is going to be handled by SFAR (the national body in charge of students’ bursaries). “Such bursaries are not included in the our budget, so we can’t afford to cater for these students, they are supposed to get funds from SFAR,” he said. According to the UNR official, the affected students will be required to make refunds for the eight months they’ve spend at the university. However, the students, who are still reluctant to comply with the institution’s decision, have called the decision unfair since they had, for the eight months served the university in different fields. “If one can’t afford to pay the tuition fees now, it means the eight months will be regarded as a waste of time, which means that one will be forced to start a fresh year, this is unfair” one of the effected students, who didn’t want to be named complained. Albert Kayiranga, who is in charge of the sports department at UNR thinks that this procedure will cause great effect on the university sports as most of the students affected play on the university volleyball and basketball teams in the national leagues. NUR has teams competing in football (second division), volleyball, basketball and handball (national leagues) that stand to be affected by the this operation. Ends

Lifestyle

NUR cuts sports bursaries for ‘freshers’