Editor, RE: “Rethinking college degrees and workplace performance appraisal” (The New Times, February 20). The hypothesis of scrapping degree classification as entry criteria for employment to a certain extent holds water, but I think it depends on the specific field. Take an example of a lawyer, a professional journalist or a doctor studying: performing well is very important for these people. The only challenge is that because of the scarcity of jobs worldwide, studying for a degree is made complicated especially in Africa. You find that the process of research for one’s thesis is like torturing chambers for candidates. Another area is corruption for marks, where it at times makes one’s grade not necessarily representative of their ability to perform in a workplace, because they never got that on merit. However, in my view, a degree remains an important minimum requirement for candidate for a particular executive job. Have you ever imagined the central bank of a country like Rwanda employing top executives without degrees? What will happen in terms of accountability? I want to say that I agree that in some situations people without degrees perform better at workplace than those who hold them, but this means that if one has a certificate or diploma cannot move forward in studies of even becoming a professor. Henry Mapesa
