Competent lecturers play a leading role in offering relevant skills that transform economies of developing countries, Education Minister Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya has said.

Mujawamariya who officiated at Sunday’s third graduation of Universite Libre de Kigali (ULK) in Gasabo District appealed to universities to only recruit competent and honest lecturers.

"Go for quality and not quantity. Government is ready to extend a helping hand because private universities are at the forefront in fighting ignorance,” Mujawamariya said.

She said that providing quality education is one of government’s major priorities.

The minister further advised other private universities to borrow a leaf from ULK, where 1912 students graduated in different disciplines.

Of these, 162 graduated in economics while 537 majored in management. Four hundred and thirty-six graduated in law, sociology had 506, administrative sciences, 208, and demography, 63.

Mujawamariya said that the fight against incompetent universities is on course.

She reiterated that universities that put quality before business gains will be assisted by the state.
She used an analogy of a rose to explain the importance of education.

She said that like a rose’s scent surrounding the neighboring environment, the knowledge acquired at ULK should be shared by all Rwandans.

"What ULK is doing is wonderful because promoting education is in line with government’s policies of eradicating poverty,” Mujawamariya said.

ULK chancellor Senator Rwigamba Balinda said that he founded the university to give students complete education based on scientific, intellectual and moral values.

Rwigamba said that the university will introduce Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) courses next year.
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