A boy and his classmate learn to read. Rwanda. Credit: GPE

Partner since:

Total grant support: US$272,865,025

Grant eligibility:

  • Multiplier
  • System capacity
  • System transformation

Education sector plan

Objective: Develop skills to strengthen the quality and relevance of education, and better prepare students to meet diverse labor market demands.

Other key documents

Transforming education in Rwanda

Rwanda has made great strides in education over the past couple of decades. The government has shown considerable commitment to the sector through various initiatives, including through providing free and compulsory education for nine years of basic education. Free education is now being expanded to 12 years of education.

The government has also undertaken the major reform of changing the curriculum, switching from knowledge to competence-based, and thus make it responsive to the needs of learners, society and the labor market.

Despite these successes, Rwanda is still facing challenges in ensuring better learning outcomes, building teacher capacities, improving gender equality, and reducing dropouts and repetition rates.

The Education sector strategic plan covers the period 2018-2024. It has been developed through collective efforts of the ministry of education and relevant stakeholders in the education sector, keeping in mind these challenges. Its conception is based on a wide consensus and the plan is linked to Rwanda’s long-term strategy for development called the National Strategy for Transformation and Prosperity, in which education is one of the central pillars.

The overarching objective of the strategy is to develop skills to strengthen the quality and relevance of education, and to better prepare students to meet the demands of the labor market.

The new curriculum requires major changes in the teaching methodology and the use of a wider range of assessment techniques. In response, the sector plan proposes 9 strategic priorities:

  1. Enhance the quality of learning outcomes that are relevant to Rwanda’s social and economic development.
  2. Strengthen continuous professional development and management of teachers across all levels of education in Rwanda.
  3. Strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) across all levels of education to increase the relevance of education for urban and rural markets.
  4. Enhance the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to transform teaching and learning and support the improvement of quality across all levels of education.
  5. Increase access to education programs, especially at pre-primary, primary, secondary, TVET and higher education levels.
  6. Strengthen modern school infrastructure and facilities across all levels of education.
  7. Give equitable opportunities for all children and young people at all levels of education.
  8. Perform more innovative and responsive research and development in relation to community challenges.
  9. Strengthen governance and accountability across all levels of education.

Result story

Rwanda: Making strides in equity and inclusion

  • Rwanda has made education a priority sector to support its ambitious development objectives and grow a knowledge economy based on an educated workforce.
  • The focus on early childhood education means that more children get an early start and are ready to learn better throughout their schooling, with better quality teachers and more classrooms.
  • With GPE’s support, the country reinforces equity, to bring more girls and children with disabilities into classrooms and ensure they learn, and fights the impact on education from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grants

(data as of August 31, 2023)

  • Type: System capacity

    Years: 2023 - 2024

    Allocation: US$1,177,715

    Utilization: US$34,441

    Grant agent: UNICEF

  • Type: Program development

    Years: 2023 -

    Allocation: US$195,500

    Utilization: 0

    Grant agent: UNICEF

  • Type: Multiplier

    Years: 2022 - 2026

    Allocation: US$30,000,000

    Utilization: 0

    Grant agent: WB

  • Type: Program implementation

    Years: 2020 - 2024

    Allocation: US$30,800,000

    Utilization: US$10,778,008

    Grant agent: UNICEF

  • Type: COVID-19

    Years: 2020 - 2022

    Allocation: US$10,000,000

    Utilization: 0

    Grant agent: WB

  • Type: Program development

    Years: 2019 - 2020

    Allocation: US$111,928

    Utilization: US$111,928

    Grant agent: FCDO

  • Type: Program development

    Years: 2018

    Allocation: US$78,223

    Utilization: US$78,223

    Grant agent: FCDO

  • Type: Sector Plan Development

    Years: 2017 - 2018

    Allocation: US$301,659

    Utilization: US$301,659

    Grant agent: FCDO

  • Type: Program implementation

    Years: 2015 - 2018

    Allocation: US$25,200,000

    Utilization: US$25,200,000

    Grant agent: FCDO

  • Type: Program implementation

    Years: 2011 - 2014

    Allocation: US$70,000,000

    Utilization: US$70,000,000

    Grant agent: FCDO

  • Type: Program implementation

    Years: 2009 - 2010

    Allocation: US$35,000,000

    Utilization: US$35,000,000

    Grant agent: WB

  • Type: Program implementation

    Years: 2007 - 2010

    Allocation: US$70,000,000

    Utilization: US$70,000,000

    Grant agent: WB

Advocacy

As part of its investment in civil society advocacy and social accountability efforts, GPE’s Education Out Loud fund is supporting Rwanda Education For All Coalition (REFAC) for the 2020-2023 period. This builds on previous support from the Civil Society Education Fund (CSEF).

Learn more

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