A total of 251,906 candidates including 136,830 girls and 11 576 boys sat for primary leaving exams while 121,626 including 66,240 girls sat for ordinary level exams.
At least 121,626 pupils exhibited excellent performance. These include 66,240 girls and 55,386 boys.
Candidates who passed in Division I are 14,373 equivalent to 5.7% while 54, 214 (21, 5 %.) candidates passed from the Division II.
A total of 75,217 candidates passed in the Division III whereas 63,326 (25, 10%) are classified in Division IV.
Among others, 44 176 (17, 50%) pupils failed exams.
On the other hand, 19.238 candidates from the lower secondary education (15, 8%) passed in Division I; 22 576 equivalent to 18, 6% passed in Division II, 17 349 (14,3%) in Division III while 45.842 (37,7%) passed in Division IV.
The results released today shows that 16,466 (13, 6%) candidates who sat for ordinary level national exams did not get at least a minimum number of points to pass.
Yannis Ntwari Rutaganira from Kigali Parents has emerged the overall top performer in primary six while Françoise Tumukunde from Institut Sainte Famille Nyamasheke was awarded as the best performing student in ordinary level.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Uwamariya Valentine has said that students who failed exams will be helped to repeat courses unlike the past when they would be allowed to the next level.
The next 2021/2022 school year is expected to begin on 11th October 2021 to close on 15th July 2022 as per timetable released by MINEDUC.
After releasing results, the Ministry has revealed that students admitted in Senior 1 and 4 will start classes at a later date on 18th October 2021 for parents to make enough preparations.
The calendar also shows that the first term to begin on 11th October will end on 24th December 2021; the second will run from 10th January until 31st March while the 3rd term will begin from 18th April through 15th July 2022.
Primary leaving candidates sat for national exams that lasted for three days from 12th July 2021.
A total of 254 678 was expected to participate but some of them missed exams due to different reasons related to effects of COVID-19.
Among others; a total of 122, 320 students including 67,685 boys and 54,635 girls were expected to sit for ordinary level.
MINEDUC has via Twitter handle revealed that results for primary leaving and ordinary level national exams will be released on 4th October 2021.
The next 2021/2022 school year is expected to begin on 11th October 2021 to close on 15th July 2022 as per timetable released by MINEDUC.
The calendar also shows that the first term to begin on 11th October will end on 24th December 2021; the second will run from 10th January until 31st March while the 3rd term will begin from 18th April through 15th July 2022.
Preparations to meet requirements qualifying the school to introduce the program are underway in a bid to maintain the pursuit of excellence.
Since establishment in 1995, Kigali Parents’ School has been positioning itself as the cradle of excellence with experienced educators imparting leaners with relevant skills and moral values.
With both the Nursery and Primary Section, the school polishes learners’ language proficiencies in Kinyarwanda, English and French and keeps a close supervision to ensure they have a good language command.
The Head Teacher of Kigali Parents’ school, Guershom Buzaale has told IGIHE that students are monitored along their intellectual growth and receive all necessary support to exhibit excellent performance irrespective of their backgrounds.
Among others, the school’s pastoral teaching approach motivates students to concentrate on lessons and grow with great ambitions.
“The brilliance of our students is a result of good collaboration with parents. Upbringing children properly should be founded on holistic pillars involving the student, parent and educator to maintain excellence. The three pillars must be interlinked to succeed. That is why we voice appreciation to parents and educators for unwavering commitment and dedication to maintain the leading position with regard to quality education and the performance of our students at national level,” he said.
Buzaale explained that the school’s main objective is to draw emphasis on child’s brain development to ensure learners graduate from Primary School with proficiencies in the languages of Kinyarwanda, French and English as well as other relevant life skills.
“It serves as the foundation for quality education helping the graduate to compete at the labour market,” he said.
Buzaale advised parents to draw attention to child’s education early as it sets ground for future intellectual growth and excellence.
“The child’s future performance is affected when quality education does not start from primary school. Basic education should be well structured to properly nurture a child with competencies paving the way for a better future,” he said.
“Kigali Parents’ school has a well-organized management, devoted educators with a wealth of experience, necessary equipment and competent curriculum providing favorable learning environment. These are among other factors helping our students to exhibit outstanding performance upon completion of primary school,” added Buzaale.
The Ministry of Education has recently announced that the next school year shall reopen on 11th October 2021.
With other extracurricular activities contributing to children’s brain development and healthy lifestyle, Kigali Parents’ School has opened doors for all children wishing to pursue excellence.
More details can be accessed via the school’s website: www.kpsrwanda.ac.rw or provided contacts: 0782859121, 0788742500, 0788595403.
Launched in 2012, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is committed to developing Africa’s next generation of transformative leaders by providing economically disadvantaged students with skills training, leadership development, counselling, mentoring, internships, and career services. The Scholars Program has committed nearly 40,000 scholarships to date.
UR is the largest and most comprehensive higher education institution in Rwanda created in 2013 with a mission to produce transformative and highly enterprising leaders who contribute to building a more just and sustainable world.
Commenting on the partnership, Reeta Roy, the President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation expressed optimism that it will create impact for youbng people from multiple disciplines.
“The mission and programs of the University are inextricably linked to the country’s national goals. That’s why this partnership is especially compelling as it will be preparing young people for careers across multiple disciplines and for real-life problem-solving,” she said.
The new partnership will build the University of Rwanda’s capacity to deliver inclusive, blended learning and contribute to a robust knowledge ecosystem that supports new and meaningful pathways to work for young people. It is aligned with the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy to enable 30 million young Africans, particularly young African women, to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030.
“The University of Rwanda believes strongly in the vision of the Mastercard Foundation,” said University of Rwanda Vice Chancellor, Professor Alexandre Lyambabaje.
“That is why we made the decision to partner with the Foundation to scale up our efforts in training transformative leaders and highly enterprising graduates and prepare them to make meaningful change on the African continent. This program aligns with the Rwanda National Transformation Strategy and its impact will resonate at the University of Rwanda, among our stakeholders and through the larger East African Community.”
The University of Rwanda joins a global network of 29 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Partners committed to ensuring that all young people, no matter their starting point in life, have an equal chance to obtain quality education and pursue their aspirations.
{{About the University of Rwanda}}
The University of Rwanda (UR) is a public, multi-campus institution offering a wide range of academic studies. Established in 2013 through the merger of previously independent public institutions of higher education, UR has since graduated a total number of 49,477 students with 36% being females and 64% males.
The university runs undergraduate, postgraduate, and certificate courses in the STEM and non- STEM fields at its six colleges (Science and Technology, Medicine and Health Sciences, Business and Economics, Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Education, and Arts and Social Sciences).
The University hosts the African Centres of Excellence in Internet of Things, in Data Sciences, in Renewable Energy and in Teaching Sciences, and Mathematics. Other Centres of Excellence are : Regional Centre of Excellence for Vaccines, Immunization and Health Supply Chain Management (EAC RCE-VIHSCM), the Regional Centre of Excellence in Biomedical Engineering and eHealth (CEBE), and the East African Institute for Fundamental Research (ICTP-EAIFR).
{{About the Mastercard Foundation}}
The Mastercard Foundation works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work.
It is one of the largest, private foundations in the world with a mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world.
The Foundation was created by Mastercard in 2006 as an independent organization with its own Board of Directors and management.
It was the seventh graduation ceremony hosted by UR since it was created through a merger of seven public higher learning institutions.
A total of 8,908 students including 3,345 females graduated from the university’s six colleges. The university awarded five graduates with Ph.D. degrees while 385 graduates were awarded Masters’ degrees in different disciplines.
The ceremony held at Kigali Cultural Exhibition Village was hosted in hybrid format to adhere to ongoing COVID-19 preventive measures.
As she addressed her remarks, the Minister of Education, Dr. Valentine Uwamariya congratulated graduates for achieved milestone and urged the university to maintain excellence to depict Rwanda’s real image.
{{Full speech}}
Ms Patricia Campbell, Chancellor University of Rwanda
Mr. Paul Davenport, Founding Chair of the UR Board, and Members
Professor Lyambabaje Alexandre, UR Vice Chancellor, and Deputy Vice Chancellors
Esteemed and Distinguished Dignitaries in Your Respective Senior Positions
The UR Academic Senate and Other High Organs of UR
Faculty and Staff of UR
Graduating Students and your Beloved Families
All Protocols Observed, Ladies and Gentlemen
It is my utmost pleasure and honor to be here with you representing the Head of State and Government of Rwanda, in the celebration by the University of Rwanda at its Seventh Graduation Ceremony. Please accept my heartfelt and warm congratulations to you dear students together with your beloved families, for reaching a successful conclusion of the academic goals you have been relentlessly pursuing.
To the Chancellor, Board of Governors, Faculty and Staff of UR, I say bravo for this wonderful achievement of adding over nine thousand more intellectually empowered and capable people to the Rwandan, African and the world job markets. These graduands you are sending out today to form an additional part of the better skilled labor force in the in various industries are going to be the reason for more efficient world systems.
The 2021 Graduation is a ceremony like no other before, at least in the last 27 years of renewed Rwanda. Never before had we skipped a whole year without graduation, but owing to the global effect by the COVID-19 pandemic, that happened. We are here today when we should have been here a year earlier. Some will call it a time lost, while others will call it a time passed. Rwanda prefers to call it a time of learning and acquiring resilience necessary for living in an unpredictable world.
And what about at the University of Rwanda in particular – what have these rare times of great challenge been like to you? I know you have your pin point answers to this question, and there will always be enough time to reflect on what has been.
Nevertheless in my own observation from a far, I have seen you learn and do new things, to this day, thanks to COVID-19. I have seen the University of Rwanda fast track the implementation of plans and policies you always had, such as the consolidation of eLearning mechanisms.
The machinery acquired to facilitate and enhance eLearning and Teaching programs, the systems put in place, the trainings delivered, skills imparted, and the improvisations learnt are all going to stay and serve you better, those who will be at UR after you, and the country at large for posterity.
COVID-19 may have disrupted our revenue flows as a country for example, but it has also taught us the useful virtue of frugality. While it has delayed most of our plans, it has also taught us to be patient. Not forgetting that in a competitive world, the fast and more innovative have moved on and surpassed some, unfortunately at the expense of the slow.
This is who you should be. Rwanda wants you graduands, the younger and the older, to grow into no-excuse performers and leaders, no matter the circumstances. We would like to put on the armour of resilience and consolidate the spirit of no-retreat in the face of unusual circumstances.
In a setting where there many scenarios beyond our control, we must remain standing. Rwanda likes to be a country which punches above its weight, all in the spirit of doing the best to be the best we can. It is a call on Africa to emulate and to join hands. The world is fast teaching us unkind lessons that we had better build capacities to fend for ourselves. Whether in Afghanistan, or the southern and central parts of Africa, lessons are all over to learn from. Our country is always at the forefront and ready to lend a hand where we should and can.
We learnt from 1994 that neglecting those in need is an unforgivable sin. Rwanda was a victim of neglect, and would never want to watch idly as the world suffers neglect. These are noble values the President of the Republic never tires to impress up on us as a nation. They are the human values I urge you on his and the country’s behalf now to wear on your sleeves and make them part of your daily lives.
The Rwanda and Africa we want will only be built by people ready to stand with others in well calculated solidarity, through hard work and sacrifice, always willing to put in an extra hour of service, going the extra mile and doing all this while observing the highest levels of integrity.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, let us always remember that UR is the only Public University of Rwanda. This beautiful name is rich with the meaning of attachment and representation. There is no other academic institution in the country which should look more like Rwanda than UR. And if we see sense in this notion, and if we agree that Rwanda always sees itself as capable of doing more within the available means, then UR should adapt an exactly similar spirit of believing in doing exactly that and willing to do exactly that. The Government of Rwanda which is more than willing to render necessary support.
We have great confidence in as well as expectation from the UR leadership. Government will continue to empower the University of Rwanda in all meaningful and relevant ways. The deal is that as we give you more, you return even much more, in the spirit of doing more with less, and punching above our weight. We want and should see more of the image of real Rwanda in the University of Rwanda, because the University of Rwanda by far raises more children of Rwanda than any other academic institution in Rwanda.
UR is Rwanda’s pride, and so may it bear Rwanda’s perfect similarity. Government will always do best to find resources for doing the right things in accordance with the noble vision to be a leading university nationally and globally. Commitment to the highest standards of academic excellence for lives of service, leadership and solutions is the yardstick UR will be constantly measured against. God bless the leadership and everybody involved as we together as Team Rwanda sail on. The strong belief we all should share is that we can.
Congratulations once more to the Chancellor, Board of Governors, Faculty and Staff and most importantly to you beloved, our graduating students, together with your families. Go have memorable celebrations while observing the COVID-19 health guidelines.
Thank you for your kind attention.
{{Remarks by members of UR management}}
{{Message from the Chancellor – University of Rwanda }}
Finally you completed your academic journey despite the huddles. Now it will not matter anymore that the COVID-19 put on hold our study plans for a year. Because despite the delay in our schedule, we have managed to make it through to the rewarding end always envisaged, degrees in hand, all we worked for. With utmost pleasure, I say congratulations to you all esteemed University of Rwanda 2021 graduands.
You are already part of a special history of resilience. When the pandemic struck the world almost two years ago, Rwanda almost one and a half years ago – when in March 2020 all schools in the country, and indeed almost the world over, closed and you went home to academic stagnation, nobody knew the time it would take to get back. While the optimistic thought it would last only a few months, the pessimistic feared it could go on for years. The God given compromise now looks to have been one year. And we can thankfully take it in and move on as children of special times.
Let this be a moment of reflection for you. I would like to draw your attention to the good things you might never have had the chance to learn this early in your academic and professional lives were it not to be for corona virus. The intensive online classes experience for students and faculty, the improvisation of technology, learning and teaching equipment, the patience with school administration, government, families and with each other, are all good.
Difficult times will always yield resilient products. Meaning that in case any of you was viewing self as unfortunate to have been the lot affected by the unusual times, let me make the reminder that you are the lucky ones instead. This world as we know it offers better opportunities to those who make the best out of seemingly bad situations, than those who are quick to have self pity, consumed in lamentations over situations they could do little or nothing about. There is no doubting that you are better prepared to take on the world than you would have been if you finished school during normal times.
I have been keenly following Rwanda the country, paying close attention to the various decisions government has made over time. There is a tremendous lesson to learn, of doing so much from seemingly so little, including for example the outstanding involvement in peace keeping missions in Africa. If you can go from here and emulate that spirit, only the sky would be the limit of what you can achieve with your degrees.
God bless you with abundant courage as you dare to go, and accompany you all the way to different fulfilling life destinies. The world has been waiting for your arrival on the stage of service, so go and give it your all now that you are fully equipped with relevant knowledge. Congratulations again beloved.
{{Message from the Vice Chancellor – University of Rwanda}}
This is a memorable day for many reasons, to several people. To every graduating student, it is a day of invaluable milestone in young academic lives that can only continue to grow from here. To your families, it is a moment of celebrating with their loved ones who just made it to the club of degree holders. To the university of Rwanda, this a time like no other as it symbolizes delivery of yet another huge contingent of employable minds to national and global markets which need your skills. And finally to Rwanda and government, it is a proud moment when the return on a noble investment into higher education is to be savored.
Esteemed graduands, while this marks the conclusion of an important phase, we are to be quickly reminded that it doubles as the beginning of another. Over the last few years you have been undergoing transformation that is not to be an end in itself. It is for enabling you to play enhanced roles individually and collectively in social, economic and political transformation of our countries, continent and the world.
A few years ago you arrived at the University of Rwanda with one goal: to study and complete, then return to the open world and be reabsorbed into different slots with boosted capacities to build in a better way. So go and be that which you have been trained to become: mature people, more responsible, grown and capable citizens ready to and capable of adding value to society. Be determined to take something valuable back to your communities and governments, as well as bringing back something to this University of Rwanda for continuity and furtherance of institutional excellence after here.
On your mind, ladies and gentlemen, from today onwards, should always be the question: what and how am I to contribute towards the betterment of my world? Let the resilience gained from the hard times be of benefit to you as you answer that question in a tangible and meaningful way. Go and contribute towards a more secure, prosperous Africa and a fair world.
As Vice Chancellor I am honored to have you as my first graduating students. I have enjoyed working hard with a valuable team towards this day of accomplishment. I look forward to leading them well in the future with genuine effort to raising higher the bar of our University’s academic and administrative aspects, vying for a place in the higher echelons of world ranking.
As you immediately become alumni, the University of Rwanda would like to maintain a friendly and active relationship with you for mutual gain. Giving back in one way or another is something you will find quite rewarding. I promise, the administration shall stay very enthusiastic and ready to engage as a way to provide you with the opportunity to give back, be it intellectually, or financially. But first you will need to go put your newly acquired skills and networks to the best use possible. Africa is waiting. Congratulations once more. (END)
{{Graduation message from Chair of the Board of Governors}}
Today as we confer on you the academic honors you have worked so hard for over a long and challenging period, dear graduating students, it is my privilege to join in your celebration of the outstanding achievement and congratulate you warmly. I and the other members of the Board of Governors certainly share in your joy. This once in a lifetime milestone which puts smiles on your faces as you reflect on attainment of your degrees is highest among the moments we always look forward to.
Special thanks I would like to extend to the Vice Chancellor and his entire team, both the academic and administrative, for a job done tremendously well. It is because of an impressive level of commitment on their part to help students succeed against all odds that this cohort is proudly graduating. In spite of the setbacks resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, University of Rwanda was only delayed in holding this graduation, but was never going to be deterred completely. It is all thanks to team UR under the good leadership of Professor Lyambabaje Alexandre. Congratulations.
President Paul Kagame once said that it is his “purpose to develop a country, to empower its population. It’s from that same population that will emerge the man or woman who will succeed me. And they will be chosen based on the consensus that they have the capacity to lead the country.”
You can and should take this message to make it literally yours, esteemed graduands. Now that you have been empowered with the knowledge necessary to impact the social transformation we all crave and are involved in its process, what remains is your inner determination to put to good use that knowledge. Let each one of you always act like a leader in your field of operation. Indeed it is from among you that Africa’s and world leaders will emerge.
To the Government that unreservedly supports University of Rwanda, much appreciation. Without solid Government support it would have been impossible for UR to remain standing as an institution of academic excellence during these difficult times. Through thick and thin the University made it to this auspicious occasion and august convocation. We look forward to consolidating the spirit of always offering value for money from the invaluable investment into our noble institution.
On the Board of Governors behalf, I sincerely say well done to the students, staff and government of Rwanda. Together we made it. Congratulations once again.
Located in Kacyiru, LICA opened doors in Rwanda in 2014 offering a school structured curriculum that has been tried and proven globally to be very effective in providing all the basic academic disciplines as well as instilling Godly character into the lives of students.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony held on 29th August 2021, Mrs Birungi Ram Abooki the co-founder of LICA said: “We are proud to graduate the first cohort of students and look forward to educating many more and setting them on the path to success.”
Accelerated Christian Education is an American education provider of a Christian education school curriculum that is structured around the individual student, building a skill upon skill, a method that enables a student to move progressively beginning with the first skill to be mastered before moving on to the next skill.
“The students today received an accredited high school diploma as well as their official transcripts and will be joining universities. We invite other students seeking a foundational excellence that will enable them to acquire the skills needed to pursue education and excel at a global stage,” Mrs Birungi added.
Life International Christian Academy is an educator that espouses Biblical Values combined with a relentless pursuit of excellence, Character Building, and the use of standardized Packet of Accelerated Christian Education (PACES) that enable the individual student to progress and eventually graduate with ICCE and LCA qualifications.
{{About Life International Christian Academy}}
Life International Christian Academy was co-founded by Birungi Ronald and Mrs.Birungi Ram and their 4 Children who moved to Rwanda in 2014, pursuing a dream to start and operate a learning center that integrates Biblical Principles (Scripture memory, wisdom principles), Godly Character Training (A.C.E. characters, 90 character traits of Christ), Mastery-Based Learning that has a Built-In Reinforced System of Learning at its core.
The school focuses on Individualized Learning that ensures that all learners, regardless of age or grade develop Critical Thinking Skills that set them on the path to success in the field of their choosing.
Siyavula is a digital platform for S1 – S4 students studying Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. The platform allows students to practise what they are learning in class, immediately marking their answers and showing step-by-step solutions. This helps students see where they may be going wrong.
Since launching in Rwanda, Siyavula has run regular competitions to award outstanding teachers and students for the work they have done on the platform. Prizes have included smartphones, airtime, and laptops.
The latest competition, held in June 2021, brought together 24,138 students from different schools across the country. There are more than 600 teachers signed up to the Siyavula platform in Rwanda, and they were also encouraged to take part in the competition.
Students who emerged among winners of the competition have revealed that it was an opportunity to weigh their performance in comparison to other students countrywide.
“I was very excited to emerge among the winners of the competition. It helped me to become self-confident and allayed fears I had before entering the competition,” said Elissa Nshuti Rumanzi, a senior four student from Kagarama Secondary School .
Sandrine Uwamahoro, another student from Lycée Notre Dame de Cîteaux, commended Siyavula for making life easy.
“Siyavula is very helpful during course revision because regular exercising helps me to be familiar with other assignments. I recently obtained excellent grades in Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics during exams and owe the performance to Siyavula in no small part,” she said.
{{Teachers speak out}}
Jérémie Habumugisha, who teaches mathematics at College du Christ Roi, emerged as the top teacher for the competition. He explained that he joined the competition to inspire students to develop an interest in Mathematics, and to assess their performance at national level.
“I wanted my school to earn a reputation and encourage students to be passionate about Mathematics by introducing the competition to them,” he noted.
College du Christ-Roi emerged the best overall school and walked away with a laptop as the grand prize, while outstanding teachers were awarded with smartphones.
Martin Habumugisha, another teacher of Mathematics from the same school also revealed that Siyavula exercises helps students to understand courses better and instills self-confidence.
“Siyavula has built confidence among students, where they can gauge their level of understanding without teachers’ presence,” he said.
Nicodème Usanase, another winning teacher from Groupe Scolaire Paysannat, said that Siyavula motivates students to use technology and gain a deeper understanding of Mathematics.
Usanase revealed that he created a WhatsApp group to bring together educators from all districts of the country and show them the benefits of the Siyavula platform, and encourage them to embrace it.
Like his colleagues, Frederic Uwizeyimana, a teacher of Mathematics at Lycée Notre Dame de Cîteaux, said that the platform came in handy to facilitate course revision, but he highlighted that the internet is still a challenge hindering them to fully embrace the technology.
“These exercises on Siyavula platform require fast internet but ours is sometimes slow, and we do not have enough computers connected to the internet. We would be most grateful if concerned stakeholders could increase the number of computers connected to the internet to make learning easier,” he said.
The Siyavula team worked with 10 schools in a pilot schools programme, from January to the end of June 2021. These schools were assigned a local in-country Siyavula Ambassador to help them integrate Siyavula into their classrooms.
{{The schools that participated in the pilot school programme were:}}
{{King David Academy
College Saint Andre
GS Juru
GS Kigali
GS Mwendo
GS Duha
Lycee Notre dame de Citeaux
GS Nsanag
ES Rokomo (SOPEM)
GS Bumba}}
During a visit held at King David Academy on 29th April 2021, the company’s management said that it would like to see its platform used across all schools in Rwanda. The platform, which has been endorsed by the Rwanda Basic Education Board, is currently freely available to all S1-S4 students, and teachers.
“We have faced several challenges to introduce the technology as many schools don’t have internet while others have inadequate computers. That is why we started with a select group of schools and others with adequate resources. Since October last year, we have seen a total of 1,138, 825 questions answered on our platform.
Teachers are also encouraged to sign up and register for a free account and to incorporate Siyavula in their day-to-day teaching. We are also excited to share that REB have provided us with a letter of endorsement, encouraging schools and teachers to take advantage of our Edtech solution. We would love to see Siyavula rolled out in all schools in Rwanda,” explained Chiara Walsh, the Project Manager at Siyavula Rwanda.
Students or teachers interested to learn about Siyavula can reach out to the company on the provided phone number: 0789 068 321.
The graduation ceremony is scheduled on 23rd August 2021.
The MGHD’21 Commencement represents the culmination of an intensive year at UGHE, with learning centered on quality, innovation and science. The master’s curriculum deliberately knits together the often-siloed areas of global health, including research development, epidemiology, implementation science, One Health, gender equity, history, anthropology, entrepreneurship, leadership, and business management, ensuring its graduates become holistic thinkers and changemakers.
UGHE’s position in the rural north of Rwanda affords students the opportunity to learn from and live among Burera District communities which, in turn, helps them critically examine the challenges faced by the communities they live in, through cultural, historical and societal analysis.
“We are proud of our students, whom we have equipped with the knowledge and skills to be among the leaders who will help transform the world and promote the conditions for equitable, quality, and holistic health service delivery for all. The world needs such global health experts, especially today given the current global situation, with climate change leading to natural disasters such as heat waves, droughts, floods, and forest fires. These natural disasters have several consequences, among others, increased hunger and malnutrition, mass displacement, a more precarious situation for the lives of vulnerable people, and increased risks for illness such as those linked to poor management of environmental, animal, and human health that we have seen with COVID-19 and its catastrophic global consequences. All of these facts are rolling back gains in population health outcomes, and our students are equipped to stop and reverse this trend,” said Prof. Agnes Binagwaho, Vice Chancellor, University of Global Health Equity.
In alignment with robust national measures to curb COVID-19 transmission, UGHE was pleased to offer learning in a blended learning format, combining online training via a sophisticated e-learning platform, COVID-19 compliant field visits, and dynamic classroom study leveraging the state-of-the-art facilities on campus. With authorization from the Government of Rwanda, Butaro Campus remained open and operational during the pandemic thanks to robust prevention measures enforced onsite, ensuring critical learning continued uninterrupted. Like their alumni predecessors, this year’s intake benefitted from tailored training from UGHE’s network of world-class faculty, as well as well as community and faith-based leaders, community health workers and, of course, their diverse cohort.
“The role of our students as the future’s global health changemakers is now more critical than ever as emerging diseases have and continue to threaten the lives of the most vulnerable. Our students leave with the resolute commitment and competency to provide an equitable voice for the historically unvoiced and underserved, and the educational tools to fulfil this challenging, yet pivotal role in the development and innovation of global health systems,” stated Prof. Abebe Bekele, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic & Research Affairs, University of Global Health Equity.
UGHE’s educational mission, and its growing network of alumni, is more vital than ever. The COVID-19 crisis has disproportionately impacted vulnerable populations globally, exacerbated shortages of trained health professionals, and highlighted the need for increased research and manufacturing capacity in low-and middle-income countries to bolster development of life-saving drugs, equipment and now, vaccines. Educating the next generation of compassionate health leaders, skilled clinicians, innovative researchers, scientists, and implementers is critical to driving this forward. This year’s graduates depart UGHE equipped with the needed skills and expertise to not only repair inequitable health systems, but also to strengthen them, leveraging firsthand learnings from Rwanda’s successful crisis response.
“We have always prepared ourselves to react according to the science of the day and the need to keep our working teams galvanised to navigate new territory and to always serve our students, employees, contractors and the surrounding community with quality, security, while keeping them safe. During the last year and half, UGHE has constantly evaluated and responded to each challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. We have continuously thought innovatively about organisational structure, supporting all of us so that we could thrive in the face of global uncertainty by planning with a delicate balance for equitable solutions for immediate positive outcomes for all, while securing the future. We are proud to have done it and to have secured continuous authorisation for UGHE to remain safely operational with quality and equity as our guides,” noted Rogers Muragije, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administrative and Financial Affairs, University of Global Health Equity.
In respect of COVID-19 measures, this year’s commencement will be the second to take place virtually, welcoming friends, families, and supporters of the graduates to celebrate the significant milestones this cohort has achieved despite uncertain global circumstances. A small event will take place on campus.
UGHE is honored to welcome an esteemed line-up of speakers to the ceremony, the elected student representatives, the Hon. Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije, the Hon. Minister of Education, Dr. Valentine Uwamariya, and a keynote address from Dr John Nkengasong currently serves as the first Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). UGHE’s Chancellor, Dr. Paul Farmer, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Agnes Binagwaho, the Dean of the School of Medicine and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic & Research Affairs, Prof. Abebe Bekele, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Administrative & Financial Affairs, Rogers Muragije, Dr. Rex Wong, Associate Professor and Director, Bill and Joyce Cummings Institute of Global Health will also speak to audiences within the ceremony.
Now, at a time when their skills are needed most, they enter a new chapter as global health leaders, eager to apply their learnings and enact fundamental change in their respective communities, and around the world to contribute to create resilient health delivery system. They join an MGHD alumni network of leaders who situate the institution at the forefront of a collective struggle to advance health equity and accelerate the dissemination of discovery and innovation in global health.
UGHE looks forward to welcoming a new intake of master’s students this September representing 13 countries globally, who will continue to drive forward this mission.
He has made the call ahead of the university’s 19th graduation ceremony expected to be held virtually on 6th August 2021 due to ongoing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In a message to graduands, Prof. Edwin Odhuno requested them to uphold integrity and strive for excellence in whatever they do.
“As you go out into the world as graduates, I implore you to be the difference in the face of challenges, in the face of adversity, in the face of impossibilities, you will be the possibility. God bless you and congratulations,” he said.
Prof. Odhuno hailed the courage of 22 graduands who excelled with ‘First Class’ grading.
He also urged 82 more graduands from the Bachelor of Science in Nursing programme to continue working hard.
“To you, specifically, I challenge you to continue working hard in your profession and ensure that all of you pass the licensing examinations with flying colors. I say this because the success of your program is highly regarded in the Republic of Rwanda and beyond,” he stated.
Prof. Odhuno also commended all graduands for tenacity and resilience to overcome societal and individual challenges occasioned by COVID-19.
The university will graduate 458 students in different programs.
Graduands will be bestowed diplomas, bachelor’s, master’s degrees and PhD in various fields including education, health sciences, journalism and mass communication, hospitality and management, information technology and social sciences, nursing, among other disciplines.
However, their salary is still considered small to afford all their basic needs and provide for their families stressing the need for more incentive programs.
As he addressed members of both chambers of parliament on 22nd July 2021; Prime Minister, Dr. Edouard Ngirente shed light on planned actions meant to improve teachers’ welfare.
He explained that interested teachers will be facilitated to pursue studies up to Master’s degree with fully paid and non-refundable scholarship.
Among others, the Government has committed to provide half of school fees for students enrolled in Teacher Training Colleges (TTC) after revising existing curriculum.
“It has been agreed that the Government will provide half of the total school fees for every student enrolled in Teacher Training Colleges until completion of their secondary education,” revealed Dr. Ngirente.
The incentive program to pay 50% of school fees went into effect in the year 2020/2021.
Students pursuing courses in education at the university will not be required to refund the scholarship as so long as they are serving in the education sector after graduation.
“A graduate from TTCs who will serve three years as a teacher in Primary School will receive a scholarship to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in education. He/she will be fully sponsored where the tuition fees and living allowances will be catered for by the Government. Upon completion of this degree, the teacher who teachers in a secondary school for five years will receive a fully-paid non-refundable scholarship and living allowances to pursue Master’s degree in education,” Dr. Ngirente explained.
Rwanda has 16 TTCs accommodating between 3000 and 4000 students every year.
Premier Ngirente also reminisced on incentives introduced for teachers including salary increment to motivate them, improve their wellbeing and subsequently paving the way for quality education.
“We are convinced that quality education cannot improve without uplifting teachers’ wellbeing because they have a significant role to play to attain the desired quality education,” he said.
Since 2019, teachers from secondary and primary schools started receiving 10% annual salary increment. An additional 10 percent was made in 2020.
Dr. Ngirente explained that the increment is also planned in the fiscal year 2021/2022 despite difficult times of COVID-19 the country is going through.
In 2006, the Government introduced Umwalimu Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO), a teachers’ credit and savings scheme meant to improve their lives through easy access to financial services and loans at moderate interest rate.
Rwanda Statistical YearBook 2020 shows that the number of qualified teachers increased from 39 453 to 45 714 in 2019.
