SOUTHERN PROVINCE

HUYE— Sixteen best performing girls in last year’s Advanced Level examinations are undertaking a basic Information and Communication Technology course (ICT) at the National University of Rwanda (NUR).

One of a kind in Rwanda, the training which is being conducted by CISCO was first held at Tumba Technical College, in the Northern Province last year, where 12 best performing girls were trained.

Jean Bosco Willy Ndushabandi, NUR’s Cisco coordinator, said 40 girls will benefit from the programme jointly run by Cisco, Imbuto Foundation and the NUR.

"This is the second batch of students to be trained by Cisco. We expect the third and last batch next year,” Ndushabandi said.NUR is Cisco’s regional centre which also covers Eastern Congo and Burundi.

The centre has a number of local academies notably at the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, Kigali Institute of Education and at the Rwanda Development Board’s Information Technology department (RDB-IT).

The three-week training equips students with computer skills which include hardware assembling, trouble shooting and repairing, soft ware installation and repairing.

Successful students after the training will receive certificates issued by Cisco which conducts the examinations.
"For students to receive certification from Cisco, they need to score at least 80 percent in all examinations,” Ndushabandi said, adding,

"we are confident that all of us  will be able to pass.”
Students who talked to The New Times said they were having problems with the English language but were coping nonetheless.

"All programmes are in English. This is a problem for some of us with a French background,” said Glorieuse Isugi, who expects to join the School of Journalism and Communication at the NUR next year.
"Nonetheless I am enjoying the training. I have acquired vital computer skills.”

Elizabeth Dushimimana, another student who expects to pursue a course in Civil Engineering at the country’s oldest university said, "I can now assemble a computer thanks to the training by Cisco”.

Our sources revealed that the students will graduate on July 8 at a ceremony to be graced by the First Lady Jeanette Kagame.

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