Rwanda Education Board (REB) has awarded laptops to 30 outstanding teachers selected from across the country.

Damien Ntaganzwa, the deputy director-general in charge of teacher development and management at REB, said the teachers were selected depending on their performance at school and in the community around them.

The laptops are meant to support teachers in doing research and innovation.

"We selected teachers depending on their work and impact on students seen through national exams. We also looked at their conduct in community,” said Ntaganzwa.

The annual award ceremony normally takes place on October 5 during Teachers’ Day.

Since 2009, REB has been awarding outstanding teachers with cows.

About 1,000 head of cattle have been given out over the years.

Jean Pierre Rutagengwa, a teacher at Groupe Scholaire Rubona in Gatsibo District, on behalf of other teachers, said they appreciate the rewards.

Some teachers said electricity remains a challenge in their localities, making it difficult to use computers.

Jean Marrie Vianny Nsaguye, a teacher at Gahohora Primary, School in Nyaruguru District, said he lives in a home without electricity yet he has to engage in off-school activities such as examining students’ work and lesson plans from home.

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