Community Integrated Polytechnic remains closed five months later

Students of Community Integrated Polytechnic in Musanze District have expressed concern over the continued closure of the institution.The polytechnic was closed five months ago over lack of accreditation, according to a May 6 letter signed by Prof. Philip Brierley, the principal, addressed to students. The closure affected more than 1,600 students in the schools’ three branches in Nyagatare, Kayonza and Musanze districts.The letter indicated it was a temporary closure and that students would be recalled soon after the accreditation was issued. However, five months down the road, the accreditation and subsequent reopening is yet to be done. Education officials said the school would be reopened after fulfilling the requirements, including putting up a laboratory and a workshop for practical learning.Some of the students who spoke to this paper last week expressed disappointment.“We were promised that the school would open in a few days, but it is almost five months of waiting. Had I known the school wasn’t accredited, I wouldn’t have enrolled there,” a student who only identified himself as Nsengimana, said.He was studying at the Musanze campus.“I think this is a loss in terms of both time and money. I paid half of the tuition fees after paying registration fee but I am not studying, I wonder how long I will be waiting.” Another female student said they risk missing this academic year.The student, attached to Kayonza campus, appealed to the authorities to communicate the way forward so stranded students can decide whether to enroll elsewhere.Isaac Ryahama, the Community Integrated Polytechnic officer in charge of finance and administration, said negotiations with Rwanda Education Board are ongoing and there is hope to resume soon.He said they have been trying to set up a laboratory and workshop as demanded by the Workforce Development Authority (WDA).“We were asked to have minimum equipment in the lab and workshop, and since we closed we have been busy looking for them. We have got between 95 per cent and 98 per cent of what we were told to fix,” Ryahama said.“The administration is in touch with WDA; we expect them to come and inspect what we have acquired and give us the green light to reopen.”However, Jerome Gasana, the WDA director-general, insisted that the school will not be allowed to operate until they meet all requirements.He acknowledged that plans are underway for WDA to assess progress the polytechnic officials have made.Community Integrated Polytechnic started in December, last year, offering courses such as Computer Science, Hospitality, Hotel Management, Agriculture, Business Studies and Teachers’ Education, among others.

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Community Integrated Polytechnic remains closed five months later