British Council Rwanda launched the 3rd cycle of Connecting Classrooms programme on Tuesday in Kigali. The programme is funded together with the Department for International Development (DFID) and is based in over 50 countries.

The training brought together head teachers, and District Education Officers from Nyamasheke, Burera and Rusizi districts.

Also participating were education officials from Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Speaking at the event, the British council country director, Sheilagh Neilson, said the training will be conducted both on face to face basis and online and it will help to enhance skills that are important today.

"We saw tremendous achievements with the first two cycles of Connecting Classrooms where schools focused more on being global citizens, and developing school leadership and communication skills, among others,” she said.

She added that they have linked local schools with schools in the UK by conducting visits between both schools so as to share experiences but most of the collaboration has been done online. She said that the new cycle of Connecting Classrooms will focus on preparing young people for global citizenship.

"This new programme will focus on critical thinking, creativity and imagination, digital literacy, student leadership, citizenship and communication skills. We are training head teachers, who, in turn, pass those skills to teachers and eventually to students, to better prepare them to be global citizens and international leaders,” she added.

Neilson also said that they previously worked with Bukavu (DR Congo) officials and they are looking forward to invigorate the relationship with schools there. This is a welcome gesture according to Joseph Kaleba, the Bukavu District Education Officer.

"It is a great opportunity for us because our schools will greatly develop with such skills and our teachers too will be empowered. Teachers are important people in shaping students who, in turn, empower societies. But this can only be achieved if they are equipped with such skills,” he said.

Kaleba further said that their students think locally yet they should be thinking in the 21st century way. He added that such skills will open students’ way of thinking and doing things. His Rwandan counterpart, Athanse Hamenyimana, the District Education Officer of Nyamasheke District, also echoed these words.

"These programmes have helped our students a lot. They are now confident because they learn from fellow students who are already exposed. It also helps schools to incorporate some lessons into the curriculum to further benefit our students and develop their English knowledge,” he said.

Hamenyimana also added that, with a new curriculum coming into place, these skills would come in handy by helping students adapt to the new curriculum.

"The new curriculum (Competency based Curriculum) largely looks at equipping students with applicable skills rather than theory based. So, if teachers impart skills such as critical thinking and creativity skills, students will find it easy to understand it,” he said.

Since its launch in 2011, Connecting Classrooms has delivered courses and online training to 400 Rwandan teachers, developed the leadership skills of 18 head teachers across Rwanda, and helped develop national school leadership standards for Rwanda.

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