The Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) has assumed the duties of setting and marking national examinations for Teachers Training Colleges (TTC), a task formerly handled by Rwanda Education Board.

During the handover ceremony that was held at the Muhanga TTC in the Southern Province, the vice Rector in charge of academic affairs at KIE, Prof. Wenceslas Nzabalirwa, said the assumption of the duties by his institute was aimed at enhancing quality education in the country."KIE trains teachers and qualified teachers are the engine of quality of education,” Nzabalirwa stated.He revealed that starting with this year’s examinations which started yesterday, TTC candidates will have to sit two more examination papers. They include teaching methods to gauge the knowledge of one’s teaching subjects and a 15 minute practical examination known as micro teaching. TTCs currently offer three options, including Sciences, Mathematics, Teaching Modern Languages and Teaching Social Studies.According to Nzabalirwa, the practical exams will start on November 21.Over 6,500 candidates are expected to sit for this year’s examinations with 54 percent of them female. About 5,095 candidates of the total are private candidates.The increase in the number of private candidates is attributed to the number of unqualified teachers, and professionals in other fields seeking to pursue the teaching profession.Claudette Uwera, who completed her secondary school education in 2006 says she decided to join a TTC as a private candidate to boost her previous qualifications."I did secretarial studies in secondary school and it became difficult for me to get a job; hence my decision to join a TTC as a private candidate so as to ultimately become a teacher. I hope to pass and get a job,” Uwera who hails from Karongi District told ."I am prepared enough to pass and ready to be a good teacher. I also hope to become an entrepreneur,” said Felix Shyaka, a candidate in Teaching Modern Sciences option at TTC Muhanga.Meanwhile, according to the head of the primary education division at the Ministry of Education, Dr Faustin Habineza, KIE plans to launch school-based programmes, where primary school teachers will get an opportunity to pursue a diploma course in Education at the institution.