Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT and Innovation, on Thursday, December 14, called upon teachers to be at the centre of advancing technology use in education and remain relevant in today’s era of technology.

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She was speaking at a ceremony bringing together teachers from across the country, government officials, and development partners, at Intare Conference Arena, to celebrate World Teacher’s Day. Held under the theme "The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage,” the day examines how schooling systems, communities, societies, and families perceive, appreciate, and effectively support instructors.

There are about 121,354 teachers across the country, among which 5,588 are in TVET, 104,720 in government and government-aided schools, and 11,046 in private schools, according to figures from the Ministry of Education.

Ingabire noted that teachers play a crucial role in advancing the use of technology in education and should first be equipped with knowledge to be able to teach students in primary, secondary, and tertiary levels so that they can join the labour market at least with basic knowledge in ICT.

Rwanda has reached 59 percent of technology adoption in the education sector and to build on this trajectory, she said, the government will continue to make progress in providing every teacher with a digital gadget; a laptop and smartphone.

Research has shown that technology has a positive impact on student engagement since it can, among others, help teachers create exciting, engaging and memorable lessons.

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Gaspard Twagirayezu, the Minister of Education, said that the government is promoting transparency and accountability in the teaching profession, naming the e-recruitment platform which plays an important role in having quality teachers in the sector.

"It is important to recognize that while technology is a formidable ally, it stands as a complement and not a replacement of our dedicated educators. This innovative tool substantially enhances the capabilities of our teachers, amplifying their impact within our classrooms. But these are tools that need to be used properly to be productive.”

He said that there are still areas that need more effort to achieve quality education in the country. These include foundational learning, students’ participation in the learning process, collaborating with parents, technology adoption, and instilling Rwandan values in education system.

The celebration saw 1,058 outstanding teachers awarded with smartphones to promote ICT in education. Five best performing schools in the 2022/2023 national exams, in general education, and TVET were also awarded.