Rwanda Education Board (REB) has launched an e-learning YouTube channel to facilitate students to continue their studies at home as the uncertainty on when schools will be reopened continue.

This comes after all schools were closed in the wake of the coronavirus lockdown. The closure was followed by a countrywide lockdown as government continued to marshal efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

The new YouTube channel that was launched Monday, March 30, consists primary and secondary courses that were usually taken in physical classrooms.

So far, students can access English lessons, elementary science lessons for primary pupils as well as advanced sciences such as chemistry, mathematics and biology among others.

The channel has 21 videos of courses from Primary Four to Senior Six.

REB, however, told The New Times that more content will be added and that the platform will ease learning during the lockdown.

The Director General of REB, Irene Ndayambaje, told The New Times that the platform will also facilitate peer learning among teachers.

"We want to help students. Instead of spending time watching useless content on YouTube, they can now watch videos that help them to study and revise,” he said.

Students welcome e-learning YouTube channel

Radia Indatwa, a Primary Four pupil welcomed the development.

"I usually find it difficult concentrating on written texts when I am not at school. But with the YouTube videos, I can save them and revise any time I want and they are less boring to me,” she said.

Her relief was echoed by Keith Shema who is preparing for ordinary level national exam.

"I always enjoy studying with videos. I was preparing for the national exams with my books and notes but now if I add lessons from YouTube, I think I will learn a lot,” he said.

In addition to the newly launched YouTube channel, REB partnered with local telecommunication companies MTN Rwanda and Airtel to waive internet fees for students to ease their access to e-learning portals.