On January 8, a student raised a concern on X (former Twitter), over the long holidays at University of Rwanda (UR), stating that the academic year ended on February 23, 2023, while the new one did not start until September 2, 2023.
The individual added that a holiday of almost six months and a half was unfair, and asked for an explanation from the university leadership, igniting debate amongst students on the same microblogging platform.
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In a subsequent interview, a 22-year-old level two student pursuing a Bachelors in General Nursing at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS) said that it would be good if the university came forward to explain this lengthy holiday which many find unnecessary.
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"This is a holiday of almost seven months. Having long breaks is a routine at UR, we usually break off from February to June. The administration doesn’t explain why the holiday was extended,” the student said on condition of anonymity.
He explained that long holidays might come with unintended consequences for the youth including early pregnancies, and addiction to drugs, due to idleness since many don’t work.
The student added that another concern is that a course which is supposed to take four years, will be completed in five years or more.
According to another student pursuing a Bachelor of Law at UR-College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS), this is the first time that law students got a short holiday of two weeks before resuming for the second trimester, which started on October 16, 2023 and will close on March 3, 2024.
The third-year student added that usually, they take breaks of six months and more, which is why she is likely to graduate in 2025, instead of 2024.
"A module shouldn’t take more than a year. We need to graduate early, find work, and earn a living,” she stated.
Another student, a 26-year-old pursuing a Bachelor’s of Forestry and Nature Conservation, at UR’s College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (CAVM) Huye, explained that for all the four years he has been at this college, he has had holidays from March to September, which is way too long and unnecessary.
He noted that UR isn’t stable with academic calendars, and learners are always puzzled by abrupt changes.
On January 9, a one "Nikita”, posted on X: "How can we put our trust in UR while its truth is absent?”
University reacts
Ignatius Kabagambe, the Head of Corporate Communications and Spokesperson of UR, responded to her, "We appreciate your concerns and understand the importance of transparency. The University of Rwanda is committed to providing accurate information, and we acknowledge that communication improvements are needed.
"We encourage open dialogue and welcome your genuine feedback devoid of mistrust, to address any gaps in information. By working together, we can enhance trust and ensure that you have the necessary details to make informed decisions. Thank you for your engagement.”
Kabagambe also posted on his X account: "Students are encouraged to place trust in the University of Rwanda, the academic institution they willingly chose to join, rather than expressing dissatisfaction as if promised more than received.