Commission agents commonly known as brokers have long been associated with services such as house hunting, car rentals or purchases, and the sale of various goods.
However, it would not be an exaggeration to say that this practice has now spread into other sectors, including education. A recent study conducted by Transparency International Rwanda (TIR) on corruption and inclusion in Rwanda’s education system reveals the existence of bribery facilitated through intermediaries, commonly referred to as commission agents.
The study, carried out in 2025, aimed to assess the prevalence of corruption in the recruitment of teachers, student enrollment processes, public procurement, and gender-based corruption, as well as to evaluate whether all children have equal access to education without discrimination.
Out of 100 respondents interviewed across five districts, 8 percent reported the existence of bribery, particularly in relation to students obtaining higher grades. Meanwhile, 5 percent pointed to corruption in the School Feeding Program, where food is allegedly misappropriated or tenders awarded in non-transparent ways.
Additionally, 7.8 percent of respondents indicated that women, persons with disabilities, individuals from poor families, and people with mental health conditions are especially vulnerable to exclusion within the education system.
One teacher who testified in the study told TIR that commission agents are actively used within the education sector to facilitate bribery so that individuals can access certain services.
“There are times when you apply for a transfer to another school and your request is rejected,” the teacher explained. “Then later, someone approaches you and says, ‘The headteacher of a certain school asked me to come talk to you.’ If you have money, you hand it over to make things easier.
You don’t give it directly to the official who is helping you, you give it to the commission agent. These agents exist within the education sector; we know them.”
Another teacher from Gicumbi District described the practice as a serious and persistent problem.
“You are given a letter transferring you to a rural sector, even though you were previously teaching in an urban area. At the same time, someone else is brought in to replace you. This happens on a daily basis,” the teacher said.
Speaking on the findings, Dr. Bruce Gashema, Lead Researcher at TIR, said that respondents consistently reported that individuals who demand bribes often rely on intermediaries to collect them.
The so-called commission agent operates between you and the bribe taker, Dr. Gashema explained. “In many cases, they are the driving force behind the corruption. This was also reported in universities, where a former student or another intermediary connects you with a lecturer, tells you where to meet, and even specifies the grades you will receive. This is done to ensure that the lecturer remains invisible in the transaction, while the commission agent appears as the main actor. That is how the system operates, according to what we were told.”
Commenting on the issue, Sylivie Uwimbabazi, Director in charge of Monitoring and Coordination at the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), said the ministry was not previously aware of the existence of such commission agents but pledged that the matter would be discussed and appropriate action taken.
Alice DUSABIMANA / KIGALI TIMES