The National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA) has released updated requirements for schools seeking accreditation or authorization to establish new learning pathways and trades.

According to NESA, the guidelines published on Thursday, January 15, aim ensure that all educational institutions operate within high-quality benchmarks.

Any institution intending to enroll students is now prohibited from doing so before receiving formal accreditation.

"No new school or newly introduced learning pathway or trade shall enroll students prior to receiving the required accreditation or authorization,” reads the NESA document.

The process, which is now fully digitized through the IREME System: https://ireme.nesa.gov.rw, requires schools to pass a self-assessment before an official inspection is scheduled.

The announcement highlights that the guidelines apply to both public and private schools, with specific additional requirements for those intending to offer international curricula.

The New Times has broken down 10 things to know about these updated regulations.

1. Applications are digitalised

According to the guidelines, all accreditation requests must be submitted through the IREME System.

This digital platform handles everything from school information and legal compliance documents to the final self-assessment results.

2. Schools must respect two specific annual windows

NESA only accepts applications during two specific batches.

Batch 1 submissions are open from September 1 to October 30, while Batch 2 applications are received between January 1 and February 28 of each school year.

3. 60 percent self-assessment threshold

Before an application advances to the inspection stage, the school must complete the self-assessment within the IREME System.

Schools that score 60 percent or above will have their applications accepted and advance to the stages of the accreditation process.

In case of a score below threshold, the application will be declined, and the school will receive feedback on key improvement areas before reapplying in the next submission window.

4. Legal compliance and land ownership proofs

To be eligible, a school must provide a valid certificate of compliance from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) for companies or the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) for Non-Governmental Organisations.

The guidelines also state that a land title or a lease agreement of at least five years for rented premises is a mandatory requirement for all applicants.

5. The path to government-aided status

According to the NESA, any school seeking government-aided status is required to be already operating as an accredited private school.

The school must submit an official request to MINEDUC through the mayor of the district or the mayor of the City of Kigali, depending on where it is located.

6. Specific classroom quotas per level

The guidelines outline requirements for different education levels, such as a minimum of three classrooms for pre-primary and six classrooms for primary schools.

Ordinary Level (OL) and TVET trades at Levels 3-5 also require at least three classrooms to meet the standards for accreditation.

7. Mandatory smart classrooms and computer labs

Modernity is key in the new rules, requiring every school to have at least one smart classroom, science labs, and a computer lab.

NESA specifies that these labs must have sufficient computers to ensure that each student has their own device.

8. Welfare and gender-sensitive facilities

According to the document, schools must provide separate toilets for staff-one for at most 15 staff and learners by gender, including a specific ratio of one toilet for every 30 girls and one for every 40 boys.

Adding that every school—except for pre-primary—must have a dedicated "Girls’ room” to support female learners.

Schools must also have a standard kitchen with required facilities (modern cooking stove, with means allowing for clean water, proper tiling) as well as the availability of a playground for games and sports.

9. Safety and lightning protection

NESA requires at least one valid fire extinguisher in every building and a functional lightning arrestor. Schools must also be enclosed by a fence built in accordance with construction guidelines to guarantee the security of learners and property.

10. The marks required for final accreditation

The basis for the final accreditation decision is split into three rankings.

An "Outstanding" ranking requires a score of 80-100 percent, granting accreditation for four years for primary schools, while a "Satisfactory" ranking of 60-79 percent grants accreditation for two years. Any school scoring 59% and below is ranked "Unsatisfactory" and will not be granted accreditation.