GISAGARA - Visiting members of the of the British Conservative Party (CP), led by Member of Parliament, Stephen Crabb, on Monday, donated 300 English language dictionaries to teacher trainees at Save Teacher Training College, in Gisagara District.

The 250 teachers are undertaking a two-week language course to help them improve their English language skills.
Crabb said that the donation was made possible through partnership with the company; PEARSON, one of the biggest publishers in the UK.

He said Project Umubano, which started four years ago, has been very successful in various community development projects in the areas of health and education.

"Every time we come to Rwanda we have a wonderful reception. We have built many friendships across the country,” Crabb said.

He added that the CP team in the country has eight Members of Parliament some of whom have just been elected.

"It is good to have them so that they understand Rwanda’s development and better understand international development,” he said.

Lydie Hakizimana, the Managing Director of DRAKKAR Limited, the representatives of PEARSON in Rwanda, said that a total of 1,300 dictionaries will be distributed in five different centres in the country.

She said that PEARSON was committed to supporting the English language training programme in Rwanda.

"Like the Umubano Project, we are keen on promoting English as a medium of instruction in Rwandan schools, that is why we decided to partner with them by making this donation,” said Hakizimana.

Johnson Ntagaramba, an official from the Teacher Service Commission, said that the training mainly targeted teachers who missed out on the previous training programme because they were involved in the marking of National Examinations.

According to Dr John Simpson, an advisor under the Rwanda English in Action Programme, teachers are faced with a challenge of lack of exposure to spoken English.

"Some know some little grammar and some vocabulary but they lack the confidence to practice English because they are conscious of making mistakes, especially in front of their students,” said Simpson.

"Part of the training is to help them build on that foundation and to give them the confidence to use English,” he added.

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