Rwandan students are in dilemma as the process of getting comparable degree takes too long. Students especially those who studied in Asia and Europe decry huddles while pursuing academic equivalences from the Rwanda Higher Education Council (HEC).

Last month when Rwanda Today paid a visit at HEC found about 15 people who had gone to collect their equivalence degree, with the majority saying that it had taken longer to get them.

Other people claimed they had lost some job opportunities due to delays to access their academic equivalences.

Rwanda Today witnessed that students who had come to HEC had printed copies of their online application as a proof to the council that they had fulfilled all the requirements but couldn’t get their equivalencies.

Nathan Ayebare who graduated from a university in China said it is now five months after he applied for an equivalency degree. “I was told while applying that it only takes three days to get the equivalency degree when all requirements are submitted but now it’s going to six months without any feedback,” said Mr Ayebale. “They do not have a clear reason why they delay the process of acquiring academic equivalences apart from giving excuses for slow internet,” said Ayebale. Ayebale says he had applied for a job at one of the largest companies in the country and was the only candidate on the position but lost the opportunity because he didn’t submit the equivalency of his academic documents.

 “This is my third job I have applied on failing because I don’t hold an equivalency to my international degree,” he said, adding, “we need government intervention otherwise we are not being cared about,” “What is very disturbing is when we reach out to the receptionists at the Higher Education Council they tell us that the delay is due to poor interment while communicating with the international universities,” he added.