Smooth start as universities in Kigali reopen

Students have been returning to higher education institutions in Kigali and have resumed their learning activities following a Rwandan government decision to reopen the education sector.

Officials from various institutions said that the majority of their students were back in class by the scheduled date of reopening on 23 February, within days of the cabinet giving the green light on 19 February.

Schools and tertiary institutions in Kigali were closed on 18 January after a surge in COVID-19 cases in the city prompted the Rwandan government to re-introduce a total lockdown.

Even when the lockdown was eased at the beginning of February, the education sector remained closed.

This hit universities hard, as up to 50% of the roughly 30 institutions in Rwanda are based in Kigali and some of those operating out of the city are subsidiaries of other institutions, according to figures from the Rwanda Higher Education Council.

Lessons, registration have resumed

According to Dr Callixte Kabera, the vice-chancellor of the University of Tourism, Technology and Business Studies (UTB), 78% of students have returned to the university.

UTB has about 6,400 students on its two campuses. Its main site is in Kigali.

“The majority of students have returned so far; they have been learning properly since Tuesday [23 February],” he told University World News, adding that the university was also registering new students.

Ignatius Kabagambe, the head of communications at the University of Rwanda, said students started where they had left off, but figures for the return rate of the students to the University of Rwanda’s three colleges in the capital city were not available.

“Most of the students are back on campus, while others attend their classes through e-learning. Those in academic administration are doing their best to ensure the minimum disruption of the original schedule. So far, all is well,” Kabagambe said.

Dr Ezekiel Sekibibi, the vice-chancellor of the Kigali Independent University, welcomed the reopening. One of the institution’s two campuses is in Kigali.

He told University World News that the university was assessed by a joint team of education and health officials who were satisfied with its preparedness to reopen.

Asked how the university was ready to catch up with lost time, Sekibibi said that some courses were delivered online, adding that it would ease physical learning.

Help with travel arrangements

The government, through the Rwanda Ministry of Education, has been facilitating travel for students and university staff who were upcountry and wanted to reach their respective campuses in Kigali.

As inter-district movements are prohibited, the ministry has issued a statement assuring students as well as teaching and other staff members who may be stranded in upcountry districts, that their return to Kigali will be facilitated by the authorities.

Those who are in districts other than those where they study or teach, should approach district directors of education where they are located. They will be registered and supported in returning to their institutions.

Similarly, students who have completed their studies this academic year but are stranded on campus and want to go back to their families in other districts could also report to their administrations so that they could be helped, the ministry of education said in a statement.

Following measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the city of Kigali and in the whole country, the number of COVID cases has decreased significantly.

Whereas the country has started to roll out the vaccination process to people in essential services, it is unclear when educators will be in line for the jab, according to sources.

New appointments

Meanwhile, the recent cabinet meeting has appointed two deputy vice-chancellors at the Rwanda Polytechnic.

Dr Sylvie Mucyo was appointed deputy vice-chancellor in charge of training, institutional development and research, while Dr Aimable Nsabimana will be serving as deputy vice-chancellor in charge of administration and finance.

Both the appointees were formerly at the University of Rwanda.