Mugirwanake, the 52 years old lady who enrolled back to school. She is a S.3 student at GS MULINGA in Gatsibo district. Seen here with her classmates during a group work
Emmanuel Nkangura
Wednesday, March 08, 2023
If ‘never give up’ or ‘it’s never too late to pursue a dream’, were a person, it would be Margaret Mugirwanake.
As a ‘bright student’ in the 1980s, at least from her viewpoint, Mugirwanake, 52, dreamt of becoming a teacher, but her dreams, and rights, were cut short.
In 1978, reforms to localise education were made, but this time, quotas were introduced for each ethnic group. Students like Mugirwanake were no longer admitted to secondary schools on the basis of merit but on the policy of “balance” (‘iringaniza’).
Article 60 of the law (at the time) on public instruction stated that the transition from primary to secondary school was to consider national exam results, students’ progressive performance, ethnic group, and balance. The policy left out many Tutsi children, girls specifically, even if they were smart.