Research conducted in 2025 by Transparency International Rwanda has revealed that corruption loopholes still exist within the education and health sectors. The study indicates that various forms of corruption continue to undermine service delivery in these two critical sectors.
In the education sector, the research highlights several corruption practices, including sexual corruption, where students are asked for sexual favors in exchange for marks, favoritism in the recruitment and placement of teachers, irregularities in school procurement processes, and manipulation of students’ academic streams.
Similarly, in the health sector, corruption manifests through practices such as the misallocation of nutritional supplements (Shishakibondo) to undeserving beneficiaries, fraudulent access to community-based health insurance (Mutuelle de Santé) intended for vulnerable people, and favoritism in accessing medical services.
The study was conducted in 2025 with the objective of assessing the state of corruption in the allocation of teaching positions, school enrollment, procurement processes, and gender-based corruption, as well as evaluating whether all children have equal access to education without discrimination. In the health sector, the research focused on examining the mismanagement of assistance programs intended for women and children, as well as favoritism in healthcare service provision.
Findings show that 8% of the 100 respondents interviewed across five districts reported the existence of corruption, particularly in obtaining good grades for students. Five percent (5%) reported corruption related to the school feeding program, where food is misappropriated or procurement processes lack transparency. Additionally, 7.8% of respondents indicated that women, persons with disabilities, individuals from poor families, and people with mental health conditions are disproportionately excluded from access to education.
Program Manager at Transparency International Rwanda, Albert Rwego Kavatiri, stated that sexual corruption remains prevalent in schools, particularly in universities, where students are coerced into providing sexual favors in exchange for grades or academic transfers, even when they are academically competent. He further noted that sexual corruption has also been identified in the health sector, especially involving some health workers who target women or girls without partners, exploiting their vulnerability to pursue sexual relationships.
Senior Researcher at Transparency International Rwanda, Dr. Bruce Gashema, explained that the study found corruption to be most prevalent at the final point of service delivery to citizens. He noted that at the individual level, corruption loopholes remain evident, particularly in healthcare services, where favoritism—commonly referred to as “ikimenyane”—influences access to services. In such cases, service requirements are not clearly communicated, and individuals without personal connections often fail to receive services. He added that corruption is also prevalent in sexual and reproductive health services.
He also highlighted ongoing corruption within the Mutuelle de Santé program, where bribes are still demanded to include eligible low-income individuals on beneficiary lists. He emphasized that there is a strong link between corruption and exclusion in both education and healthcare services.
Rwandans have been urged to continue the fight against corruption so that the few individuals who still engage in giving or receiving bribes are identified, prosecuted, and sanctioned. This collective effort aims to ensure that corruption is completely eradicated in the near future.
