BUJUMBURA February 27th (ABP) – The note relating to the orientation of winners of the state examination at the faculty of medicine in Burundi was among the points analysed at the Cabinet held on Wednesday February 21 under the chairmanship of the head of State, Mr. Evariste Ndayishimiye, we learn from the press release emanating from the General Secretariat of the Government.
That point was presented by the Minister of National Education and Scientific Research, Mr. François Havyarimana.
In that press release, it is recalled that for a certain time, the access of winners of the state examination to the medical faculty is subject to success in the competition organized for that purpose. On the one hand, the organization of the competition allows an objective orientation in that faculty, and on the other hand, it allows us to have competent future doctors, who are able to safeguard the health of the population. However, reports of a lack of fairness between student doctor candidates from different provinces have already been raised.
That note presents the analysis of the statistics of students admitted to the faculty of medicine in Burundi in order to verify whether the information indicating a lack of equity between the provinces is real or not. Considering the success rate, disparities are observed between Bujumbura town hall and the other provinces. Children from rural areas are less likely than children from urban areas to be in medical school. Faced with that situation, three alternatives are proposed. That involves increasing the number of examination centers, by making each provincial capital an examination center. That proposal has the advantage of reducing the distance for candidates, but also has the disadvantage of requiring an increase in the budget allocated to the organization of that competition. There is also the fact of eliminating the entrance exam to the medical faculty and considering only the points obtained in the state exam, ensuring strict compliance with the criterion of excellence and equity between the provinces. Another alternative is to continue to organize the competition and select the successful candidates based on the criterion of excellence and provincial quotas to guarantee fairness. Provincial quotas would be determined in proportion to the number of candidates for the state exam.
After analysis, the Council of Ministers opted for the organization of the competition and the selection of the successful candidates based on the criterion of excellence and provincial quotas to guarantee fairness. Provincial quotas would be determined in proportion to the number of candidates for the state exam.