At different times, university students have asked for the increase of living allowance from Rwf25,000 per month.
In the general meeting students’ representatives from different colleges in Rwanda, said that students could not perform well in class when they lack some basic needs like food, a problem which affects the quality of education.
According to Ndayisaba, students’ representatives intend to approach banks and request them to increase their living allowances, provided as loans.
“Before 2015, they used to provide students with internship fee; this usually helped them during the internship and research period, but after its removal, it affected the quality of education,” he said.
“We are thinking to approach Rwanda Development Bank (BRD) so that they increase living allowances in form of loans to enable students get quality education,” he added.
Ndayisaba is optimistic that their voices will be heard and the government raise the money to Rwf60,000.
Pascal Gatabazi, a students’ representative in Tumba College of Technology said “The quality of education cannot be attained when students are hungry, don’t have access to internship of international standards and don’t have enough professional lecturers.”
Commenting on students’ concerns, the Director General of Science, Research and Technology in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Marie Christine Gasingirwa urged students to raise the issue so that institutions in charge could sit and assess where to get resources.
“It is good to raise it.When the issue is raised we discuss about it and sort out priorities and resources. When there are no resources, we explain to them,” she said.
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