The Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimna, has called for continued reflection on how Rwanda’s education system can help mend the deep scars left by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, urging that institutions of higher learning become beacons of unity and humanity.
Speaking at the University of Rwanda’s commemoration ceremony on April 22, the minister emphasized that the Genocide’s roots extended into places that should have stood for enlightenment and protection—including the university itself.
“A university should teach people humanity,” he said. “But what happened here was the opposite. Students, teachers, and staff—educated people—took part in the killings.”
His remarks served as a stark reminder of how education, if misused or stripped of moral foundation, can contribute to destruction instead of development. It’s a call to reevaluate not just the past, but the present and future of education in Rwanda.
In response to these painful lessons, the Ministry of Education has since introduced programs that aim to rebuild society, including Clinical Psychology, Social Work, Civic Education, and Transformative Education.
These fields, according to the minister, are meant to “ensure university students become a strong foundation for transforming and sustainably developing our country.”
The University of Rwanda, built on the ashes of the former National University of Rwanda, has since become a partner in rewriting this tragic history and fostering unity.
The minister encouraged educators, researchers, and writers to play a key role in countering Genocide ideology and denial.
“Let this be a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come—and how far we still need to go,” he concluded.
Prince Ruzigana / The Kaminuza Star