Rwanda has achieved education for all over the past three decades, but improving quality, reducing overcrowding, and strengthening collaboration between parents and schools remain critical priorities, Minister of Education Joseph Nsengimana has said.

Speaking during the 20th National Umushyikirano Council in a panel discussion themed "Linking Education, Work, and Civic Engagement,” Nsengimana highlighted the country’s remarkable transformation from a discriminatory education system before the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to one that provides learning opportunities to all Rwandan children.

"Right after the Genocide against the Tutsi, the education sector was in shambles. Most schools had been destroyed, teachers were killed, and others had fled the country. The government had to rebuild everything from scratch,” Nsengimana said.

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He noted that prior to 1994; access to education was limited and discriminatory, serving only a few. However, reforms introduced over the past 32 years have focused on inclusivity and expanding access across all levels of education.

"To ensure that all Rwandans have access to education has been our priority, and we have achieved that,” he said.

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Nsengimana cited the expansion of early childhood education as one of the country’s major milestones. According to the minister, Rwanda now has more than 680,000 children enrolled in pre-primary schools, compared to very limited nursery school access before 1994.

"This prepares young Rwandans before they even enroll in primary school, giving them a stronger foundation for academic success,” he said.

The growth is also marked at the secondary level. Nsengimana noted that in 1994, only 37,000 students were enrolled in secondary school, compared to about 788,000 students today, representing a more than twenty-fold increase.

Similarly, access to higher education has significantly improved. Before 1994, only about 2,000 Rwandans had attended university. One clear difference today that the University of Rwanda alone produced over 9,000 graduates last year, he said.

Despite these achievements, Nsengimana emphasised that improving education quality requires stronger collaboration between schools and parents.

"We urge parents to closely follow up on their children’s education, prepare them from an early age, and engage with teachers and school leadership. When parents are involved, it becomes easier to ensure quality learning,” he said.

He encouraged parents to hold schools accountable for the services they provide, noting that such engagement would help improve overall education standards.

The minister also highlighted government efforts to align education with labour market demands through increased investment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and professional training programmes.

"These programmes ensure that once students graduate, they are ready for the job market and can contribute to national development,” he said.

Nsengimana acknowledged that rapid expansion of access has brought challenges, particularly overcrowding in schools. To address this, the government constructed 27,500 classrooms between 2017 and 2024, though he admitted more infrastructure is still needed.

"As we secure more resources, we will continue expanding school infrastructure to reduce overcrowding. We also have old classrooms, particularly in public and faith-based schools, that need renovation,” he added.

The government is working with religious institutions to rehabilitate the ageing schools and improve learning conditions, he said.

He added that teacher training also remains a key priority, with ongoing efforts to strengthen teaching capacity across subjects.

Nsengimana stressed the importance of accountability across all levels of the education sector, echoing President Paul Kagame’s call for responsibility in delivering quality services.

"We all have responsibilities, from teachers and school administrators to the ministry, and we must be ready to be held accountable for meeting them,” he said.