Senate Urges MINEDUC to Address Equivalence Delays for Foreign Qualifications

KIGALI, RWANDA - The Rwandan Senate has called on the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) and the Higher Education Council (HEC) to find a sustainable solution to delays in granting equivalency certificates to students who studied abroad. The issue was raised during discussions on a report examining how institutions are implementing recommendations from the Auditor General of Rwanda.

Equivalence certificates validate foreign qualifications for use in Rwanda’s labor market. According to the Auditor General’s report, processing times have been excessively long, with applicants waiting between 20 and 405 days. Between 2021 and 2024, HEC received 28,043 applications but granted equivalence to only 21.4% of applicants.

Senators emphasized the need for clear guidelines to streamline the process and ensure timely issuance.

Edward Kadozi, Director General of HEC, explained that delays are often due to applicants failing to meet requirements or slow responses from foreign universities. “We are building a technological system so that an applicant cannot proceed if they have not met certain requirements, gradually reducing time-consuming processes,” Kadozi said.

He confirmed that the new system will be operational by June 2026, moving away from manual paper reviews to a digital process that allows quicker verification, approval, or rejection of applications. “The traditional way involved an employee reviewing and printing on paper. We are moving it to technology where the system ensures transparency and efficiency,” he added.

HEC noted that equivalence certificates continue to be issued weekly for applicants who meet all necessary requirements, and the upcoming system is expected to further expedite the process.