Institutions under the Ministry of Education have been merged to form one body; the Rwanda Education Board (REB).

The merger was approved by cabinet on Wednesday and the management team and structures of the board put in place.

The institutions that have been merged include; the Rwanda National Examination Council (RNEC), the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), the Students Financing Agency (SFAR), Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the National Inspectorate of Schools.

In a telephone interview yesterday with the new head of the board, John Rutayisire, the merger is expected to bring about synergy and efficiency in the education system.

"Government has been trying to see how it can bring about economies of scale through resource sharing,” said Rutayisire, who prior to his recent appointment served as the Executive Secretary of RNEC.

He said that there has been wastage of resources where every institution under the ministry had separate departments doing almost the same thing.

"You find that every institution has an ICT department and yet this department can do all the work for all institutions,” he observed, adding that the money spent on unnecessary activities will be saved and invested to improve education standards.

The law that puts REB in place stipulates that the institution will be charged with following up the nation’s education policy, ensuring education for all, reinforcing technology-based education and quality education, and all other duties related to education.

The law was passed by parliament early this year and has since been published in the official gazette.

According to the legislation, the board shall have legal personality, administrative and financial autonomy. It shall also be governed in accordance with legal provisions governing public institutions.

The board shall be governed by a Board of Directors appointed by a Presidential order and a General Directorate.

The departments under REB include; the department of Curriculum Development, the department of teachers’ training and capacity building, and the department charged with the quality and standard of education.

Others are the department of ICT in education, the department of examinations and accreditation of Higher Institutions of learning and universities, and the department of students financing and loans.

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