Inside a classroom of primary six pupils at Gasagara Primary School in Gasabo District, every child has a tablet which they use to access academic content related to the lesson of the day. It is around 11 am, and they are following their teacher’s instructions. The school is among the beneficiaries of the ProFuturo Project, an initiative of World Vision Rwanda in partnership with Rwanda Education Board (REB), which was officially launched on Tuesday, December 8, 2020. Aimed at improving the quality of education through the use of digital technologies, ProFuturo Project is sponsored by Telefonica Foundation and La Caixa. The project, which began in Rwanda in March 2018, has so far equipped 96 primary schools in Rwanda, serving 74,718 children, with IT infrastructure to integrate use of technology in classroom lessons. Overall, 5,856 tablets, 125 laptops, 122 projectors and routers have been distributed to the schools while 438 teaching staff have been taken through professional development and digital training to be able to support the children. As part of the event to mark the Project launch, representatives from the Ministry of Education, World Vision, and the delegates from Gasabo District toured Gasagara Primary School and interacted with the pupils who were using the digital gadgets. Abebe Nigatu, the Director of People and Culture at World Vision, appreciated all partners in upholding the wellbeing of children. “Our vision is to ensure every child lives life in its fullness and one of the ways we achieve that is through access to quality education” he said. He observed: “We believe that empowering parents and teachers with the tools and training they need gives children the opportunity to shine and a solid foundation to reach their full potential.” The Head of ICT in Education Department at the Rwanda Education Board, Christine Niyizamwiyitira, commended World Vision and all partners for promoting the use of ICT in education which she says is critical in this digital era. Globally, she said, technology is the fourth industrial revolution, and has great potential to drive economic development. “There is no other resources whatsoever available in the world which fosters development than ICT,” she said. “That is why the Government of Rwanda has made it a primary priority so that children are trained to get ready for the job market of our current century.” Niyizamwiyitira called upon the leadership in schools to properly manage the IT equipment they were given so that it can be maximally utilised to serve all children. Isimbi Hyacinth, the headteacher of Gasagara Primary School said that the support to the school is creditable. “We are very happy with this initiative because it was the first time that the pupils had used a computer,” she said. Through the content access system, we dont have challenges related to the shortage of textbooks,” she said. For François-Xavier Mupenzi, a primary six pupil at the same school, digital learning is very effective, especially when it comes to visuals. “I am able to open a programme and access the right content that the teacher has recommended. It is much easier for me to follow using a digital device than following lessons written on a blackboard,” he said. Abebe Nigatu, World Vision’s Director of People and Culture, during the launch of an initiative ProFuturo at Gasagara Primary School in Gasabo District. Dr. Christine Niyizamwiyitira, Head of ICT in Education department in REB during launches an initiative ProFuturo.
