Norwegians pledge to support education sector

Investment:Orphans and widows to benefit 20 Norwegian teachers and social workers, yesterday said they will start a project supporting the education sector in Rwanda.

Saturday, March 10, 2012
State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Mathias Harebamungu meets the Norwegian teachers. The New Times / John Mbanda.

Investment:Orphans and widows to benefit20 Norwegian teachers and social workers, yesterday said they will start a project supporting the education sector in Rwanda. They made this pledge yesterday after the State Minister in Charge of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Matthias Harebamungu, urged them to invest in the sector. . Rune Leirset, a school inspector in Levanger Commune, said that when the group goes back home they would mobilise support. "We visited orphans, widows and different schools. We shall try to assist these groups, education wise. We shall also mobilise other people and start a project to support Rwanda’s educational sector,” he said. Leirset commended the Ministry of Education for providing free education under the 12-Year Basic Education programme. Toril Leiset, a principal in Levanger Commune, said that they had heard fantastic things about Rwanda and now they had seen it all with their own eyes. She said that the whole group would go back and spread the word about Rwanda’s beauty and progress despite the tragedies that befell it years ago. Harebamungu called upon the group to maintain the good relationship and encouraged them to invest in the country. "I am glad that you have promised to start a project to help Rwanda’s education sector. Although we have made remarkable progress, there is still more that can be done with your support,” he said. Dr.Harebamungu briefed them about the education system in Rwanda and the progress that has been made so far. He highlighted the 12 year basic education and the One laptop per Child programmes, the planned increment of teachers’ salaries in June and the 8,000 classrooms that were built in just one year.