KIGALI - Five thousand laptop computers for schoolchildren have arrived in the country as part of the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) project.

The State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Theoneste Mutsindashyaka, confirmed the development Thursday, saying the move was aimed at transforming education in the country.

"The world is very competitive and with computers for the students, the government shall be able to provide update education to Rwandans,” Mutsindashyaka said.

He revealed this during an annual meeting of secondary school head teachers held at Serena Hotel. He said another five thousand laptops would soon be arriving.

He added that the provision of computers to students and their teachers will improve their capacity of gathering vital information globally and compete with the rest of the world.

Rwanda is participating in the OLPC roll-out programme, which the government said will be extended to all primary school children within five years.

The initiative is a move away from the traditional chalk-and-blackboard teaching, instead using ICT in curriculum development and transmission to students.

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