Construction works to upgrade Rwanda Coding Academy (RCA) with modern facilities is underway to enable the enrollment of more students, The New Times has learned.

Rwanda TVET Board Director General, Paul Umukunzi says this initiative aims to provide "a more conducive learning environment" for students.

Estimated at Rwf 6.2 billion, the project will include modern teaching and boarding facilities, with completion expected within 18 months.

Figures by the TVET Board show that the current student capacity stands at 360 which will increase to 540 students upon completion of the new school.

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"We aim to upgrade the school with modern facilities for a more conducive learning environment," Umukunzi said.

Discussing the current challenges, Umukunzi noted, "The current facilities have limited the school's ability to enroll a larger number of students and do not provide an environment conducive to the quality of education we aim to offer."

He added, "Challenges include limited student enrollment capacity, inadequate accommodation facilities, and a lack of modern workshops and laboratories."

The new infrastructure is expected to "increase access to Technical, Vocational Education and Training and improve the quality of training delivery."

The school's future vision is to "continue training talented and gifted young Rwandans in software programming, promote quality and excellence in coding skills, and position Rwanda as a hub for software development talent in East Africa."

Located in Nyabihu district, Western Province, the school was founded in 2019 under the directives of the Rwanda Digital Talent Policy endorsed by the Government of Rwanda in April 2018.

The new campus development is part of a four-year collaboration between the Government of Rwanda and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), which commenced in 2021.

Since 2021, KOICA has been collaborating with the Ministry of Education and RTB to support the construction of the new campus, provide high-quality educational equipment, develop school operational policies, and enhance software skills for teachers and students.

The Ambassador of Korea in Rwanda, Mr. Jeong Woojin, said that the goal is to help Rwanda Coding Academy become "a center of excellence in Software Development, providing students with high-quality practical skills that are in demand both nationally and internationally."

KOICA's partnership with the Government of Rwanda focuses on three primary areas: ICT, Agriculture, and Education.