INES-Ruhengeri: Disability is not inability

INES-Ruhengeri, an Institute of Applied Sciences in Rwanda, as one of the partners in the “Advance Inclusion of Students with Disability in Higher Education in Rwanda” (ANSWER) Project, is making all efforts to offer an inclusive quality education.  This is reflected by its core values including witness of life, solidarity, collaboration, and excellency. 

Policies in place, are giving an excellent framework for treating students, and staff with disabilities with dignity, and in an inclusive way. Students, staff, and customs of INES can testify this. 

Mr. Placide Manirarora, one of the students with disabilities studying at INES-Ruhengeri, said that INES tries its best to serve students with disabilities.

“We can have access to our classrooms as well as to the hostel easily, though the old classes are still having some challenges on accessibility because people are obliged to use stairs”, Placide underlined.

Mr. Placide Manirarora, current Minister in Charge of Students with disabilities at the INES’ Students Union Committee (photo/Vedaste)

Ms. Bertine Iradukunda, a student at INES-Ruhengeri has also skin disability. She supplemented her colleague Placide ensuring that they do not met any exclusion neither in class nor outside the class.

                                                                                                                               Ms. Bertine Iradukunda (left with glasses) doing group work with her classmates (photo/Vedaste)

Dr. Mireille Biraro, Director of International Relations at INES, said that there is a good step in terms of inclusion awareness. She gave an example of the wheelchair symbols which are indicated even in front of her office just to show the reserved park for individuals with limited mobility, including wheelchair users. 

                                                                                                                           Wheelchair symbols and supplementary ways to upstairs are available at INES (photo/Vedaste) 

Mr. Eustache Munyaneza, the Coordinator of the ANSWER project which is aiming to promote inclusive education for students with disabilities at INEs-Ruhengeri revealed that this project came at the right moment. 

“Through various training sessions, students and staff increased their awareness about disability and we know how we can cope with it at the higher learning institution”, Mr. Eustache said. 

He went on saying that at INES-Ruhengeri, students with disabilities enjoy their rights. They have representative in the Students’ Union Committee and in other various clubs. For example, Mr. Placide Manirarora is the current Minister in Charge of Students with disabilities at the INES’ Students Union Committee. 

                                                                                                        Mr. Eustache Munyaneza, the Coordinator of the ANSWER project (photo/Vedaste) 

Mr. Eustache Munyaneza added that INES-Ruhengeri, with its partners, will continue to remove barriers to ensure inclusiveness, and support students with disability so that they can achieve their studies effectively and then, they will be able to improve lives in their respective communities.