Rwanda’s ambitious Smart Education Project is set to receive a Rwf30 billion financial boost from an agreement signed between Rwanda and China.

The framework that will see China's Exim Bank offer a concessional loan to contribute to the digitalisation of education system in Rwanda was inked on December 16.

Uzziel Ndagijimana, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, said "This support will contribute to Rwanda’s National Transformation Strategy with a particular focus on building a knowledge-based economy through providing quality education for all.”

The Ambassador of China in Rwanda, RAO Hongwei, said that the project will catalyse the development of education in a quality and balanced way and cultivate talents that contribute to the country’s social-economic development.

"I firmly believe that the Smart Education Project will contribute to the betterment of digital infrastructure in Rwanda’s education sector and provide a solid foundation for teaching and learning based on data and information,” he said.

The project scope will focus on three main areas; dedicated education network, education data centre as well as smart campus and school network.

The Project will connect 63 universities and higher learning institutions, and 1,437 schools from pre-primary to secondary and TVET schools.

In 2018, the government introduced a ‘Smart Classroom’ initiative aimed at digitizing education from a paper-based system to one that allows access to a variety of teaching and learning methods using technology.

The initiative is dependent on quality access to broadband, content, and gadgets as well as expertise and know-how among facilitators and teachers.

Recently, 185 laptops, 1,680 tablets, and other IT equipment were handed over by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for smart classrooms in refugee schools.

Number of Primary schools with internet connectivity: 1,173

According to statistics from the education ministry, 1,173 primary schools have been connected to the internet and have computers, which represents 31 per cent.

This is while 1,180 secondary schools are currently connected to the internet, representing over 53 per cent. 

Of these, 797 schools have smart classrooms and students have access to quality education.