Students of Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) should forget about acquiring first class honour’s degrees should they fail to practice speaking English daily, Prof. George K. Njoroge, the Rector of the institution directed yesterday.

While officiating a meeting that was held between the academic staff and students at the institute’s compound in Remera, Njoroge emphasised the need to embrace change and do whatever it takes to ensure that the English language policy is implemented successfully.

"All instructions that will be given in any of those halls of study will be in English. An exception however will be given if at all students are studying a different language such as Kinyarwanda, Chinese or Swahili,” he emphasised.  

Njoroge also stressed that there is no way students will be able to learn the language or even pass exams unless they speak English all the time.    

Adding that a learning institution should be composed of people who are willing to learn, he also said that, "If you want to earn yourself a first class degree then you should work hard for it starting with daily practice.”

Citing that government’s heavy investment in the institution since its establishment, he advised teachers, as elite members of society, to embrace English as a medium of instruction so that they too can be able to educate these students who will be tomorrow’s teachers that will significantly contribute to the Rwandan changing society.

He also urged them to regard each other as people in a changing society ready to participate in a fast changing world by embracing the language with a vision to flourish. 

In a bid to promote and understand the use of English, a teacher development and management policy has already been introduced so that teachers get to practice the use of English language. The study period for students has also increased by a year so a degree course will take 4 years.

Njoroge also advised students that, such knowledge will help them gain more knowledge.

"With this knowledge you will be able to meet colleagues like those at Makerere University, Kampala and challenge them hence building knowledge and becoming global citizens,” he said.

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