In an increasingly busy school timetable, art can often be overlooked in favour of the core subjects. However, according to experts, schools that integrate arts into their curriculum show improved student performance in mathematics, English, critical thinking and verbal skills. There is a strong relationship between the cognitive capacities developed through learning and communicating in dance, drama, media arts, music as well as the visual arts, and students’ academic and social skills. Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB) has.since 2016, introduced creative arts in the National Curriculum. According to Gerald Nyandwi Ndagijimana, the Curriculum Specialist at REB, it was first introduced only in Kinyarwanda and later in 2020, its English version was also presented. He said that they have also trained teachers and given them manuals to help them in the implementation of competency-based curriculum, specifically creative arts — fine art and crafts syllabus. He disclosed that creative arts are now being taught in both lower and upper primary school levels and include lessons about drawing, painting, weaving using locally available materials, modelling, music, dance, puppetry and collage as well as embroidery decorations among others. Jean Baptiste Tuyisenge, a teacher at G.S Rugando in Gasabo District, said that they have put into force creative arts where, in addition to teaching it in classes, they have also created a club where children gather once in a week and showcase their talents in front of teachers and colleagues. In school, he said, children learn fine arts that include knitting by using thread, embroidery decorations, drawing and modelling different objects by using clay. The children are also taught to play different musical instruments in addition to learning traditional and modern dances. Talking about the drawing lesson, he said that children draw what they know and then the teacher observes their drawings and helps them develop them. Tuyisenge sees creative arts as a course that helps children showcase their talent, makes them love school as well as motivates them to learn other subjects. “When you tell a student that if they learn mathematics, they will be able to craft better artworks and if they learn English, it will help them explain it to a large audience and that social studies will help them know how arts from different areas look like, it makes children love school more which can reduce cases of dropouts,” he said. André Habiyaremye, a teacher at Espoir de L’avenir, which is located in Bugesera District said that they hold creative arts classes where children make handcrafts mould some objects by using clay, while others make bicycles from wood. He said that the lesson is delivered four times a week, which is equivalent to 160 minutes. “When children craft something and decorate it, it makes them understand what they need in daily life. A child who can develop an artwork can even do other subjects better,” he said. “Drawing is something that adds value when children are learning. Given that nowadays that they children see artists on TV, they can be motivated to follow their steps hence becoming great.”
