2011; Defining moments in the education sector

One of the key goals for the Government embedded in the Vision 2020 is to turn the country into a middle knowledge-based economy. There is no better way to do that than to equitably expand the educational opportunities and improve the quality of education imparted in students. During the just ended year, the country’s education sector registered remarkable success in achieving its goals. As we usher into the New Year, it is important to analyze the successes of 2010, as a foundation for continued progress. Varsities harmonize academic calendar with EAC A cabinet meeting in 2011 approved the harmonization of the Rwandan Higher Institutions academic year with that of other East African countries. In East Africa, the academic year begins in September and ends in June while in Rwanda it used to commence in January and end in October. The harmonization came in a bid to align the Rwandan programmes to those of its regional counterparts. Speaking to The New Times, the former Minister of Education and current Prime Minister, Pierre Damien Habumuremyi, said that the harmonization will come with a number of advantages across the education fraternity. The alignment came in the wake of a bigger plan to fully harmonise the education systems of all the East African partner states whose modalities are still being worked out. They will include changes in the current syllabus to suit the integration requirements. The harmonization was also expected to eliminate the long period of waiting that students were subjected to. High school finalists in Rwanda used to wait for a full year before joining their respective universities. More private varsities accredited The Kigali Institute of Management (KIM) and the Gitwe Higher Institute of Education were credited in the past year. The two institutions assumed the new status after receiving the nod from a cabinet meeting mid this year. The Definitive Operation Licence means that the institutions are now allowed to award degrees to their students. With the two out of the way, Rwanda Tourism University College (RTUC) remains the only Institute of education without a full operating license. Over 111, 000 students sit for national exams A total of 111, 408 students sat for exams this year. The number includes both Ordinary and Advanced level students. The Ordinary Level registered an increase in the number of candidates from 61, 768 last year to 79, 694 this year. The increase was attributed to the first intake of the Nine –Year Basic Education (9YBE) students, who sat for the first time since the commencement of the programme. The programme started in 2009 when government introduced universal education spanning to nine years of primary school education. The programme saw a massive enrolment in Primary estimated to be at 95 percent in the country. At A-level, only 31, 711 students registered. This is a far cry from the whopping figure of 51, 484 last year. Male candidates are the majority at this level totalling to 17, 192. In an interview with The New Times, the Director of Rwanda Education Board (REB), John Rutayisire, attributed the decrease of candidates at this level to the efforts put in place to promote vocational and technical courses. Private candidates also decreased from 12, 274 to 7, 637 in 2010. The exams were done from 474 centres across the country. The Nine-Year Basic Education The nine year basic education programme was introduced to reduce the school dropout rates. The programme, however, had to deal with the shortage of infrastructure, mainly classrooms, to accommodate the increased numbers of students. To deal with the challenge, the public was urged to join in the efforts to build the classrooms. Government provided building materials and the people provided labour. In a space of only three months, a total of 3, 171 classrooms and over 10, 000 restrooms were completed before the beginning of the 2011 academic year. However, as the first batch of the programme prepares to join upper secondary, government is in a drive to introduce 12 years of free education. Currently, 2,679 classrooms are under construction around the country in preparation for next year’ beginning of the 12-YBE programme. The programme is part of the ministry’s seven year plan which was adopted after the re-election of President Kagame. MINEDUC institutions merged Institutions under the Ministry of Education were mid 2011 merged to form one body; the Rwanda Education Board (REB). The merger was approved by cabinet and the management team and structures of the board put in place. The institutions that were merged include; the Rwanda National Examination Council (RNEC), the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), the Students Financing Agency (SFAR), Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the National Inspectorate of Schools. The decision was taken by the government to bring about economies of scale through resource sharing. The law that puts REB in place stipulates that the institution will be charged with following up the nation’s education policy, ensuring education for all, reinforcing technology-based education and quality education, and all other duties related to education. The law was passed by parliament early this year and has since been published in the official gazette. The departments under REB include; the department of Curriculum Development, the department of teachers’ training and capacity building, and the department charged with the quality and standard of education. Others are the department of ICT in education, the department of examinations and accreditation and the department of students financing and loans. Ends