Following the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) tremendous achievements for its 2008 targets, key stakeholders have agreed to pump US$ 35m (Approx Rwf19bn) into its budget for this year.

During a one-day meeting yesterday, with their partners, officials in the ministry said they successfully achieved around 87 percent of their set objectives last year.

State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Theoneste Mutsindashyaka, explained that the introduction of the 9-year basic education system was one of the reasons that elevated the rate of enrolment of students in schools.

"The number dropout rate and that of students repeating classes has significantly reduced,” he noted, adding that they also introduced an alternate system where primary students rotate the mornings and the afternoons, a fact that helped solving infrastructural shortcomings.

At the meeting that took place at the Laico Hotel (former Novotel), Mutsindashyaka welcomed the budget increase explaining that it will help the ministry to achieve its 2009goals.

He explained that the main focus is going to be put on the teaching system reinforcement and schools management, and underlined the role to be played by the Rwanda Education Board to facilitate the synergy in the teaching system and application of programmes.

Richard Arden from the British Department for International Development (DFID), said they are enthusiastic to increase their financial support to the education sector in the country, in a move to build strong skills in different areas of education.

"The quality is extremely good here compared to other countries,” he said, pledging more support when needed despite the current financial downturn.

MINEDUC’s main stakeholders include the World Bank, DFID and Global Education Alliance among others.

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