Eight groups of teachers yesterday showcased the knowledge they acquired in several exchange programmes.
The exchange programme is an arrangement between the Ministry of Education and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

It aims at improving the quality of teaching and training in Rwandan secondary and tertiary institutions.

The Strengthening Mathematics and Science in Secondary Education (SMASSE) project targets science and mathematics as well as vocational school teachers.

During their presentations, the fourteen teachers explained that the experience they gathered from various countries were very instrumental in the improvement of their work.

"We came back with a lot of knowledge because of the exposure and we have been able to pass it to our colleagues,” said Aline Benegusenga, a member of the group that went to Kenya.

Other groups went to Malaysia, Japan, Kenya, Senegal, Indonesia and Switzerland.

Speaking to The New Times, the Director of Science and Technology in the Education Ministry, Dr. Christine Gasingirwa, pointed out that the programme improved the value of the teacher.

"When they go out there, they see and learn new things which help increase their value and zeal to do better things,” she said.

Gasingirwa explained that since the beginning of the SMASSE programme in 2008, performance in schools whose teachers attended the trainings increased.

At the gathering, they shared findings; lessons learnt and best practices from training with their fellow teachers.
They also made presentations on how to improve teaching methods and education training management.

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