5 nursing schools under investigation

KIGALI - The Minister of Health, Dr. Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo, has confirmed that five nursing schools are being investigated to ascertain whether they have the capacity to render quality education. In a telephone interview yesterday, Ntawukuriryayo said the exercise will also seek to know whether students recruited into the five nursing schools’ advanced level training possess genuine academic papers. The schools under probe are: Ecole des Science Infirmieries (ESI) Rwamagana; Ecole des Science Infirmieries Kibungo; Ecole des Science Infirmieries Nyagatare in the Eastern Province; Ecole des Science Infirmieries Kabgayi in the Southern Province; and Ecole des Science Infirmieries Gicumbi in the Eastern Province. The aforementioned secondary schools award diplomas that enable students to pursue degree courses at universities. An examination council started investigating papers of practicing nurses after allegations emerged that some of them could be using forged papers. Last year, the academic papers of 21 practicing nurses were found to have been forged; the culprits were immediately fired. The discovery came after Rwanda National Examination Council (RNEC) wrote to the Ministry of Health indicting that the academic transcripts of 21 nurses were missing in their databank. Ntawukuriryayo said the exercise will conclude in June this year. Ends