A new $6 million project (about Rwf8 billion) called 'Ibitabo Kuri Twese' (Books for Us All), is aimed at improving access to high-quality and affordable books for Rwandan students, according to officials.
The three-year project, launched last week by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, includes the establishment of a new printing house with a daily production capacity of 30,000 textbooks.
According to the Rwanda Education Board (REB), the country has previously outsourced some of textbooks used in schools from Kenya, Uganda, India, and China, among other countries.
With local production now in place, officials at REB say the target is provide at least one book per student. Currently, eight students share one book, on average.
The new initiative focuses on reducing impacts of the current book-to-student ratio, particularly in primary schools.
The 1000 Hills Printing and Packaging, the new printing company located in the Kigali Special Economic Zone in Masoro,will be a key driver in achieving the set targets.
"The new facility will improve the local book supply chain and enhance the livelihoods of those employed in this sector,” said Martin Mawo, Chairperson of 1000 Hills Printing and Packaging.
"This state-of-the-art complex will also generate employment for 50 permanent workers and 300 seasonal staff, boosting Rwanda’s economy.”
The 2022-2023 Auditor General's report highlighted the shortage of textbooks, with one textbook being shared by five students in some schools and 48 students in some cases.
The shortage was particularly acute in districts like Ngoma, Kayonza, and Rubavu, where some subjects were taught without textbooks altogether, according to the report.
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Overall, education ministry’s 2022/2023 Statistical Yearbook showed that the average pupil book ratio was 2 to 1 in primary schools, 3 to 1 in lower secondary, humanities, sciences, and languages, and 5:1 in Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs).
Nelson Mbarushimana, REB Director General said that the new initiative will accelerate efforts to ensure that all students across the country have access to textbooks. The program to deliver books to parents is set to launch in the first quarter of the 2024/2025 school year.
"Parents seeking books included in the national curriculum, whether for public or private schools, will be able to purchase them at competitive prices. This project will support us in ensuring that every student has access to the necessary books. We aim for these books to reach everyone,” Mbarushimana said.
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In addition to improving production, the Books for All project will address broader issues within Rwanda&039;s book market, such as distribution and accessibility.
New bookstores will be established in 10 districts across the country, bringing high-quality, affordable books closer to the people. Furthermore, discussions with financial institutions are underway to provide support to publishers and printing companies, ensuring they are empowered financially and technically to meet the demand.
Fiston Mudacumura, who has 15 years of experience in the printing industry, noted that one of the key challenges they previously faced was meeting the government’s market requirements such as quality.
"With this new project, we are better equipped to win contracts and reduce the cost of producing books,” Mudacumura said.
"We are working toward producing books that meet the quality standards. By the end of this three-year program, we aim to have a stronger book market and a more efficient distribution system in place.”
The project also includes a Track & Trace system, which will allow the government to monitor the availability and distribution of textbooks across the country. This is part of a broader approach aimed at strengthening both public and private actors in the production and distribution of books in the country.