Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente on December 13 commended teachers for their vital role in Rwanda’s development and in nurturing future generations.

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Ngirente was speaking during national Teacher’s Day celebrations, at Intare Conference Arena, under the theme: "A teacher who is valued gains more motivation to invest in education.”

Ngirente said: "The achievements we see in agriculture, farming, infrastructure, electricity, healthcare, and other sectors are a result of Rwanda’s investment in raising children who go on to acquire knowledge and contribute to the nation’s development. Rwanda continues to thrive because of the dedication and efforts of teachers.”

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The Prime Minister expressed the government’s gratitude to teachers for their commitment to providing quality education, instilling values, and shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

He emphasized that teachers play a transformative role in society, saying: "We are all witnesses to the fact that teachers are instrumental in shaping individuals. Children may be born to parents, but the hours they spend at school allow teachers to re-create them into the Rwandans we aspire to have—the responsible youth and leaders of tomorrow.”

Ngirente acknowledged the remarkable influence teachers have in their communities, noting that their presence uplifts villages and cells, turning them into centers of development and inspiration.

Teachers call for support

Veronique Uwambaje, a language teacher at Kimironko 2 TSS, spoke on behalf of her peers, expressing gratitude for the government’s efforts to improve education. She highlighted achievements such as the introduction of pre-primary education in public schools, the construction of more classrooms to reduce overcrowding, and the implementation of school feeding programmes.

Primary school teachers got an 88 percent salary increment, while secondary school teachers got a 40 percent increment, effective August 2022, as part of the incentives aimed at improving teachers’ livelihoods.

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Uwambaje also commended salary increments for teachers and the establishment of Umwalimu SACCO, which contributed to their motivation. Umwalimu Savings and Credit Cooperative is one of the initiatives of the Government of Rwanda to enhance teachers’ welfare. Since its establishment in 2006 and obtaining license to operate as a financial institution in 2008, SACCO has proved to significantly scale up its members’ standards of living. The teachers’ SACCO has a variety of savings and loan products aimed at improving the well-being of members by providing them with loans to start income generating projects to supplement their income.

Uwambaje pledged teachers&039; commitment to promoting literacy from an early age, instilling national values, and producing skilled graduates aligned with Rwanda’s Vision 2050.

She also called for additional support to help teachers achieve these goals.

"We request parents and guardians to fulfill their responsibilities by providing necessities and monitoring the education and behaviour of students. Additionally, we need practical materials in TSS, training for capacity building—particularly in English and other subjects enhancing quality education—and for those still lagging behind we request access to resources like electricity, internet, laptops, and books to enhance the quality of education,” she said.

The Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimana, also applauded teachers, calling them the backbone of the education system and the heart of national transformation. He reiterated that teachers play a pivotal role in achieving Rwanda’s vision for development.

Nsengimana highlighted recent reforms in basic education aimed at enhancing teaching quality and improving the profession’s standards to increase productivity.

"As we promised, the ministry will continue to listen and collaborate in efforts to improve the education sector, emphasizing that education is a shared responsibility. By working together, we can achieve all our goals.”