A new partnership meant to empower women through education leadership programme has been formed in Kigali. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the $1 million (about Rwf670 million) partnership between Rwanda’s College of Education (former Kigali Institute of Education) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).  The partnership was sealed this week at Rwanda College of Education at a function attended by the Ministers for Education, Dr Vincent Biruta, and that of Gender and Family Promotion Oda Gasinsigwa. It is aimed at increasing women’s participation in the teaching profession as well as development of curricula and teaching methods that are inclusive and gender sensitive to empower female students. Speaking at the launch, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Sharon Haba, said the initiative is in line with government’s programme to empower women so as to effectively contribute to national development. "Just like the government programme to ensure that a girl child is also empowered, this initiative that also considers to academically support women will contribute to our general objective; the reason it must be taken very seriously,” Haba said. The guild Education minister, Annet Byukusenge, said she is optimistic that the partnership will promote gender equality in the school and beyond. "As teachers of tomorrow, I believe that what we will be able to get from here shall be taken to other schools in which we shall be operating. This means that this programme shall benefit not only this school but many others and the country in general,” she said. The USAID Deputy Chief of Mission, Jessica Lapenn, highlighted the importance of the programme.  "Education of girls is one of the most important predictors of a nation’s socio-economic success, yet, for long, they have been barred from education or feel like outsiders in the classrooms,” she said.  Lapenn said no nation can achieve its targets without empowering women, adding that the partnership would ensure that all students can be empowered. During the event, a partnership between UCLA and Microsoft was announced. This partnership will operate through the Microsoft 4Africa initiative that will provide distance learning courses to the University of Rwanda’s College of Education.