OLPC Rwanda/Background

Rwanda's National Education Background

Under Rwandan President Paul Kagame's leadership, many changes are underway in Rwanda's national education system (see the "Ten Year Long Term Strategy and Financing Framework" section below). One of the most important changes is Rwanda's aim to provide students with nine years (six years of primary and three years of post-primary) of free education. <ref> Rwanda's Ministry of Education website http://www.mineduc.gov.rw/spip.php?article21 </ref> These changes will require redesigning the primary school and common-core syllabus to focus more on math, language, and elementary technological sciences. They also require a substantial increase in the national budget for education, which has been described as "not less than 30 percent."<ref> Rwanda's Ministry of Education website http://www.mineduc.gov.rw/spip.php?article21 </ref>

In 2009, it was announced that Rwanda would switch from French to English as the language of instruction after the fourth year of primary school. Most Rwandans speak Kinyarwanda, one of Rwanda's three official languages (which also includes English and French). Many people speak Swahili in market towns.

Ten Year Long Term Strategy and Financing Framework (LTSFF 2006-2015)

In 2006, Rwanda created a Ten Year Long Term Strategy and Financing Framework (LTSFF 2006-2015) to coincide with the completion of the Millennium Development Goals in 2015. This was created with the a shorter-term, five-year Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP 2006-2010) that has since been updated with a new Education Sector Strategic Plan (2008-2012). The LTSFF places priority on a number of educational areas , including creating a fee-free education, incorporating science, technology, and information technologies into school curriculum, and expanding HIV/AIDS education, language education, and special needs education.

• The main goals for the LTSFF include <ref>UNESCO "Rwanda Education Sector: Long-Term Strategy and Financing Framework, 2006-2015; http://planipolis.iiep.unesco.org/upload/Rwanda/Rwanda%20LT%20Strategy%20and%20financing%20framework%20Sept%2006.pdf </ref>:
  • Achieve universal primary completion of quality primary education by 2015, and expand opportunities for all Rwandans to achieve nine years of basic education
  • The teaching of science and technology with a special focus on ICT for a more adaptable labour force. In particular the participation of girls in upper secondary and higher education is to be encouraged. Incentives are to be developed for science and technology teachers.
  • Provide increased opportunities for early childhood development, adult literacy, secondary and tertiary education, and children with special needs
  • Improve quality, efficiency and cost-effectiveness at all levels
  • Integrate cross cutting issues such as respect for human rights, HIV/AIDS prevention, gender equality, environment, hygiene, health across the education system
  • Improve planning, management, administration capacities based on reliable data, governance and transparency
  • Promote research for national development in partnership with the private sector.

The LTSFF was also updated to include more ambitious targets for achieving universal primary education:

LTSFF's 2006 Key Targets For Achieving Universal Primary Education	Numbers
Primary School Completion	From 51% (2006) to 112% by 2015 <ref> Completion rate exceeds 100% because of the large numbers of overage children in the schooling system which also means that the gross enrollment rate has been above 100%.</ref>
Dropout Rate	14% (2006) to 5% (2010 to 2% (2015)
Repetition Rate	19% (2006) to 8% (2010) to 3% (2015)
Double Shifting Reduction	From 31% (2004) to 20% (2010) to 6% (2015)
Textbook Ratio	1:1 in core subjects by 2008
Transition Rate from Primary to Lower Secondary as a Major Move Towards Nine Year Basic Education	75% achieved by 2015
GER at Secondary	16% (2006) to 43% (2015)

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Development in Rwanda

Even before OLPC began its work in Rwanda, the Rwandan government made a commitment to embrace information technology development in its economy and education system. It has chosen information technology as its main development strategy for Rwanda's Vision 2020, a movement to transform Rwanda's economy into a middle income country. According to the Rwanda Vision 2020 proposal, in order to stimulate the country's private sector, "provision of high quality educational services in sciences and technology will be necessary for consolidating development gains made in the short and medium term. It is envisaged that with these reforms, Rwanda will transform from a subsistence agricultural economy to a knowledge-based society, with a vibrant class of entrepreneurs...By 2020, Rwanda projects to have internet access at all administrative levels, for all secondary schools and for a large number of primary schools."

Education Statistics

1. UNICEF's State of the World's Children Report 2009 Statistics

Categories	Numbers
Total adult literacy rate (%), 2000-2007	65
Primary school net enrollment/ attendance (%), 2000-2007	86
Youth (15–24 years)literacy rate 2000–2007 (male)<ref> Youth literacy rate – Number of literate persons aged 15–24, expressed as a percentage of the total population in that age group.</ref>	79
Youth (15–24 years)literacy rate 2000–2007 (female)	77
Percentage of phone users 2006	3
Percentage of internet users 2006	1
Primary school gross enrollment ratio 2000-2007 (male)<ref> Primary school gross enrollment ratio – Number of children enrolled in primary school, regardless of age,expressed as a percentage of the total number of children of official primary school age. </ref>	138
Primary school gross enrollment ratio 2000-2007 (female)	142
Primary school net enrollment ratio 2000-2007 (male)<ref> Primary school net enrollment ratio – Number of children enrolled in primary school who are of official primary school age, expressed as a percentage of the total number of children of official primary school age. </ref>	76
Primary school net enrollment ratio 2000-2007 (female)	81
Primary school net attendance ratio 2000-2007 (male) <ref> Primary school net attendance ratio – Number of children attending primary or secondary school who are of official primary school age, expressed as a percentage of the total number of children of official primary school age. </ref>	84
Primary school net attendance ratio 2000-2007 (female)	87
Survival rate to last primary grade (%) 2000–2007 (administrative data) <ref> Survival rate to the last grade of primary school – Percentage of children entering the first grade of primary school who eventually reach the last grade of primary school. </ref>	31
Survival rate to last primary grade (%) 2000–2007 (survey data)	76
Secondary school gross enrollment ratio 2000-2007 (male)<ref> Secondary school gross enrollment ratio – Number of children enrolled in secondary school, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the total number of children of official secondary school age. </ref>	14
Secondary school gross enrollment ratio 2000-2007 (female)	13
Secondary school net enrollment ratio 2000-2007 (male)<ref> Secondary school net enrollment ratio – Number of children enrolled in secondary school who are of official secondary school age, expressed as a percentage of the total number of children of official secondary school age.</ref>	N/A
Secondary school net enrollment ratio 2000-2007 (female)	N/A
Secondary school net attendance ratio 2000-2007 (male)<ref> Secondary school net attendance ratio – Number of children attending secondary or tertiary school who are of official secondary school age, expressed as a percentage of the total number of children of official secondary school age. </ref>	5
Secondary school net attendance ratio 2000-2007 (female)	5

Other Rwandan Education Statistics	Numbers
Public current expenditure on primary education per pupil (2009) <ref> Human Development Report 2009 http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/indicators/164.html </ref>	$109
Public expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP (2008) <ref> UNESCO Institute for Statistics: Rwanda Education http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/TableViewer/document.aspx?ReportId=121&IF_Language=eng&BR_Country=6460&BR_Region=40540 </ref>	4.1%
Public expenditure on education as a percentage of total government expenditure (2008) <ref> UNESCO Institute for Statistics: Rwanda Education http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/TableViewer/document.aspx?ReportId=121&IF_Language=eng&BR_Country=6460&BR_Region=40540 </ref>	20.4%
Distribution of Public Expenditure Per Level as a Percentage - Primary (2007) <ref> UNESCO Institute for Statistics: Rwanda Education http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/TableViewer/document.aspx?ReportId=121&IF_Language=eng&BR_Country=6460&BR_Region=40540 </ref>	45%
Distribution of Public Expenditure Per Level as a Percentage - Secondary (2007) <ref> UNESCO Institute for Statistics: Rwanda Education http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/TableViewer/document.aspx?ReportId=121&IF_Language=eng&BR_Country=6460&BR_Region=40540 </ref>	25%
Pupil/Teacher Ratio in Primary School (2008) <ref> UNESCO Institute for Statistics: Rwanda Education http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/TableViewer/document.aspx?ReportId=121&IF_Language=eng&BR_Country=6460&BR_Region=40540 </ref>	68:1

OLPC's work in Rwanda

detailed article:OLPC Rwanda

Rwanda has committed to deploy 120,000 laptops across the country in alignment with the country's push to increase IT education in schools. 10,000 XO laptops were donated through the Give One Get One program in 2007. The XO laptops feature English keyboards following a nationwide switch in 2009 when English replaced French as the language of instruction in schools. Since 2009, the OLPC Learning Team has been developing the Kigali-based Center for Laptops & Learning in partnership with the Kigali Institute of Science & Technology (KIST). The OLPC Learning Team has helped with the development of the Center.

Other Educational Initiatives

Summary of Educational Development Initiatives in Rwanda

Name of Organization	Investment in Country	Description of Activities/Major Projects
UNICEF		52 schools are considered "child friendly"; 17% of all schools are on track to be child friendly by 2012 • UNICEF constructed 212 temporary classrooms following the February 2008 earthquake; are rebuilding a destroyed, 24-classroom primary school and reconstructing it as a model child-friendly school; Twelve UNICEF-supported schools (six primary and six secondary) were awarded for their achievements in promoting quality education for all children.
WFP	Reached 535,000 people in 2009 (including providing 300,000 children with hot lunches). Targeting 540,000 people in 2010. <ref> WFP Activities http://www.wfp.org/countries/rwanda </ref>	In 2009 WFP provided hot lunches to 300,000 primary school children in 300 schools in the most food-insecure parts of the country; worked with the Rwandan government on food security initiatives (WFP will hand over school meal responsibilities to the government in 2012) • provided assistance to 58,000 refugees from the DRC and 10,000 Rwandans returning home.
WHO		The strategic direction for WHO in Rwanda include: strengthening of the health system; control of diseases (non-communicable and communicable); and health promotion and the environment
UNESCO		Rwanda has volunteered to participate in the “One UN” pilot initiative (see below). It is designed to better coordinate delivery by United Nations agencies, including UNESCO. One of the country’s top priorities is strengthening its educational capacities. It is also concerned with developing media. The UNESCO-sponsored Radio Salus at the National University of Rwanda provides training for students.
UNDP
IFRC
World Vision
Save the Children
USAID
SOS Children's Villages
World Bank

Other Educational Development Initiatives in Rwanda

Name of Initiative

Description

One UN “Delivering as One” initiative

Rwanda is one of eight pilot countries for the Delivering as One Initiative. The ONE UN programme focuses on five strategic thematic areas: governance; health, HIV and population; education; environment and sustainable growth and social protection. The intended outcomes of this project are: improved school attendance and retention of boys and girls in WFP-assisted primary schools; increased enrolment and retention of orphans and vulnerable children; and increased ability to manage school meal programmes by the Government at the national, regional and district levels. <ref> World Food Programme; Food Assistance Support for Education http://www.wfp.org/content/food-assistance-support-education </ref>

Other Resources

Rwanda Education Resources:

• Rwanda's Ministry of Education website
• Education in Rwanda Wikipedia page

Education Reports

• The Rwandan Education Sector Strategic Plan from 2006-2010
• Rwandan Education Sector: Long-Term Strategy and Financing Frameworkfor 2006-2015
• UNDP Rwanda Development Report 2007

OLPC in Rwanda:

• OLPC Rwanda wiki page
• OLPC News (separate from OLPC) articles about Rwanda

Education Initiatives' Resources

• UNESCO's Education in Africa website
• Rwanda Development Gateway provides a list of all NGOs in the country

Other

Notes

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