Quality education must be our priority - Kagame (PHOTOS)

President Paul Kagame has called for a “revolution” in Rwanda’s education system so as to nurture highly qualified human capital that can pave the way for the country’s economic transformation. Kagame said this yesterday while delivering the State of the Nation address at the opening of this year’s Umushyikirano. Education took centre stage in view of the fact that for Rwanda to become a knowledge-based economy with highly qualified human capital, addressing the education’s quality gaps should be the nation’s top priority. “I believe that a revolution in the quality of education, at all levels, must be among our highest priorities,” Kagame said. The President’s comments were echoed by Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente. While underlining key components of the National Strategy for Transformation, Premier Ngirente said that there is need to continuously empower education sector if it is to deliver Rwanda’s desired development agenda. The two-day dialogue, underway at Kigali Convention Centre, brought together over 2000 participants from across Rwanda and from Rwandan communities abroad. Some 3000 youth attending this year’s YouthConnekt Convention that opened on Sunday at Petit Stade in Remera, Kigali, and several Rwandans from different sites across the country are also following the proceedings and sharing their views via video link. The President also shared the progress the nation has made this year in various sectors, including agricultural growth of 8 per cent, increase by 50 per cent of exports, resulting from Made-in-Rwanda strategy, and a reduction by more than 20 per cent of the trade deficit. Other achievements listed by the President include more than 8,000 new manufacturing jobs created this year, US$1.5 billion dollars in new investment and infrastructure deals registered in 2017, including the ongoing construction of a new international airport in Bugesera, south of the capital Kigali. On tourism, Kagame said that the country’s conference tourism strategy is bearing fruits with Rwanda hosting 169 international meetings this year alone. The President also pointed to Rwanda’s security and peace as key to sustaining achievements and thanked Rwandans for their central role in the progress the nation has made to date. The State of the Nation address was followed by a panel discussion entitled, “National Strategy for Transformation” that featured Uzziel Ndagijimana, the Minister of State in charge of Economic Planning; Louise Mushikiwabo, Minister for Foreign Affairs; and Clare Akamanzi, CEO, Rwanda Develoment Board. The second panel of the day focused on Rwandan values for prosperity and brought together Julienne Uwacu, the Minister for Sports and Culture; Dr Anita Asiimwe, Coordinator National Early Childhood Development Programe; and Dr Augustin Iyamuremye, Chairman Rwanda Elderly Advisory Council. The chairperson of Rwanda Civil Society Platform, Jean Leonard Sekanyange, told The New Times that this year’s dialogue was inclusive and centered on addressing national transformation issues other than “petty” personal issues, which he said demonstrates progress. On the education sector, Sekanyange noted that, “the government needs to focus on skills development rather than theory-based training in order for the country to cultivate more innovative ideas that will shape the future of the country. The two-day dialogue ends today, with discussions on the role of the youth in national transformation. ** 2017 AT A GLANCE Agric sector grew 8% Exports grew by 50% Trade deficit narrowed by 20% 8000 new manufacturing jobs created US$1.5bn worth of investments Country hosted 169 int’l meetings President Kagame delivers his 2017 State of the Nation Address at Kigali Convention Centre yesterday. The President used the same platform to open this year’s National Dialogue Council, best known as Umushyikirano. The event closes today. / Village Urugwiro The two-day event is taking place in the main auditorium of Kigali Convention Centre, Kimihurura. Some 2000 delegates have converged at the facility for the annual national dialogue, while thousands others are participating through video conferencing from a parallel YouthConnekt Convention at Petit Stade in Kigali and three other locations around the country. / Village Urugwiro President Kagame addresses the annual forum, which attracted central and local government officials, businesses, civil society representatives, religious leaders, among others. / Village Urugwiro The 15th edition of Umushyikirano drew delegates from Rwandan Diaspora communities as well as foreign leaders. / Village Urugwiro President Kagame and Prime Minister Dr Edouard Ngirente observe the national anthem at the opening of the National Dialogue Council at Kigali Convention Centre yesterday. / Village Urugwiro Prime Minister Dr Edouard Ngirente presents an overview of the National Strategy for Transformation at the Umushyikirano 2017. / Village Urugwiro State Minister for Economic Planning Dr Uzziel Ndagijimana and the Rwanda Development Board chief executive Clare Akamanzi on a panel discussion that also included Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo and moderated by central bank vice governor Monique Nzanzabaganwa at Umushyikirano 2017 at Kigali Convention Centre yesterday. / Village Urugwiro The annual dialogue attracted foreign government officials, including the Minister for Youth and Sports of Chad (centre). Right is Rwanda’s Minister for Youth, Rosemary Mbabazi, while looking on right is the Minister for Culture and Sports, Julienne Uwacu. / Village Urugwiro Foreign Affairs minister Louise Mushikiwabo chats with Frank Mugambage, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Uganda, at the Umushyikirano 2017 in Kigali yesterday. / Village Urugwiro President Kagame greets Habiba Sahoulba, the Chadian Minister for Youth and Sports, at the 15th edition of Umushyikirano in Kigali yesterday. / Village Urugwiro The Minister for Interior and Decentralisation of the Republic of Congo, Raymond Zéphirin Mboulou (left), with Rwanda’s Minister for Trade and Industry Vincent Munyeshyaka at the National Umushyikirano Council in Kigali yesterday. / Village Urugwiro President Kagame greets the Minister for Interior and Decentralisation of the Republic of Congo, Raymond Zéphirin Mboulou, at the annual National Umushyikirano Council in Kigali yesterday. / Village Urugwiro The Governor of Southern Province Marie-Rose Mureshyankwano and her Eastern Province counterpart Fred Mufulukye at the annual dialogue in Kigali yesterday. / Village Urugwiro Some of the officials at the Umushyikirano 2017 at Kigali Convention Centre yesterday. / Village Urugwiro A cross-section of participants at the Umushyikirano 2017 in Kigali yesterday. / Village Urugwiro President Kagame speaks on the first day of the National Umushyikirano Council in Kigali yesterday. / Village Urugwiro President Kagame makes a contribution during deliberations at the National Umushyikirano Council 2017 at Kigali Convention Centre yesterday. / Village Urugwiro A participant takes part in deliberations on Day I of this year’s Umushyikirano in Kigali yesterday. / Village Urugwiro The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo, speaking on a panel on the first day of the annual dialogue in Kigali yesterday. / Village Urugwiro The Minister in the Office of the President, Judith Uwizeye, and Finance minister Claver Gatete at the National Umushyikirano Council in Kigali yesterday. / Village Urugwiro Chadian Minister for Youth and Sports Habiba Sahoulba, and Rwanda’s Minister for Sports and Culture Julienne Uwacu at the National Umushyikirano Council at Kigali Convention Centre yesterday. / Village Urugwiro. Some of the delegates at the 15th National Umushyikirano Dialogue at Kigali Convention Centre yesterday. / Village Urugwiro Dr Joe Olzacki, an American academic, at the Umushyikirano 2017 in Kigali yesterday. / Village Urugwiro L-R: Health minister Dr Diane Gashumba, State Minister for Social Affairs Dr Alvera Mukabaramba and State minister for Energy, Water and Sanitation Germaine Kamayirese at the National Umushyikirano Council at Kigali Convention Centre yesterday. / Village Urugwiro As with the previous editions, this year’s Umushyikirano attracted participants from inside and outside the country. The two-day event closes today. / Village Urugwiro Besides the 2,000 delegates that converged at Kigali Convention Centre, more than 3,000 youth delegates attending this year’s YouthConnekt Summit in Remera, Kigali are participating in the Umushyikirano 2017, via video link, as are hundreds of citizens gathered at three locations across the country in the districts of Nyamasheke, Musanze and Gatsibo. / Village Urugwiro Participants observe the national anthem at the opening of the event in Kigali yesterday. / Village Urugwiro The Minister for Youth and Sports of Liberia, Saah Charles N Tow, and his Rwandan counterpart Rosemary Mbabazi at the National Umushyikirano Council at Kigali Convention Centre in Kigali yesterday. / Village Urugwiro Speaker Donatille Mukabalisa and Premier Dr Edouard Ngirente at the meeting yesterday. / Village Urugwiro Liberia’s Minister for Youth and Sports Saah Charles N Tow stands up for recognition at the 15th annual Umushyikirano gathering in the capital Kigali yesterday. / Village Urugwiro Northern Province Governor Jean-Marie Vianney Gatabazi and his Western Province counterpart Alphonse Munyentwali (right) at the dialogue in Kigali yesterday. / Village Urugwiro Some of the delegates at the meeting in Kigali yesterday. / Village Urugwiro Justice minister and Attorney General Johnston Busingye chats with Health minister Dr Diane Gashumba and Rwanda’s Ambassador to France Jacques Kabale. / Village Urugwiro Michel Sidibe, the UNAIDS Executive Director, and Lamin Momodou Manneh, the Director of the UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa (right), at the Umushyikirano 2017 edition in Kigali yesterday. / Village Urugwiro A cross-section of participants at the annual event yesterday. / Village Urugwiro Defence minister James Kabarebe (right) chats with Infrastructure minister James Musoni at the meeting in Kigali yesterday. / Village Urugwiro A participant makes a contribution at the dialogue on Day I yesterday. / Village Urugwiro Michel Sidibe, the UNAIDS Executive Director, stands up for recognition at the Umushyikirano 2017 in Kigali yesterday. / Village Urugwiro editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Quality education must be our priority - Kagame (PHOTOS)