KIGALI - The Government of Rwanda, the UK Department for International Department (DFID), and The Hunter Foundation (THF) Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding worth £2.35 million (Frw2.6 billion).

The money will fund two teacher training facilities and is expected to result in up to 1,400 new teachers being trained by 2012. The teacher training institutes will be built in Kavumu (Southern Province) and Rukara (Eastern Province).

"This is exactly the right kind of partnership and intervention we need in Rwanda’s education sector right now. Our biggest challenge is not quantity but quality,” Minister of Education Daphrose Gahakwa said.

Sir Tom Hunter, Founder and Chairman of The Hunter Foundation (THF) which invests in holistic programmes of intervention, said that the move was in line with the government’s education policy.

"This looks to us to be a great way of delivering precisely what the Government of Rwanda sees as its vision for a quality education. It’s fantastic so many children can benefit from such an initiative,” he said.

The representative of the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) Sandra Pepera welcomed the signing.

"We’re delighted to be part of this initiative which brings the best energies of Government, development agencies, and private foundations together,” she said.

DFID has provided around £380 million (Frw413 billion) to Rwanda over the past 10 years. The UK currently provides bilateral assistance totalling £46 million (Frw50 billion) each year, of which £31 million (Frw34 billion) is provided as direct support to the Government’s budget.

Ends