What your curriculum shouldn't miss

It is common knowledge that every child has the right to education. Additionally, Rwandan law provides details for what you are entitled to learning, the amount of time and the language in which you ought to be taught at different levels of education. This is stipulated in ministerial order n°006/2016 of 08/01/2016 determining curriculum, teaching hours and the language of instruction in primary, secondary and specialized schools. Article 3 of the above-mentioned ministerial order talks about the curriculum and teaching hours in specialized schools. It says, “Persons with disabilities who cannot follow their education with other learners shall follow specific curriculum and teaching hours provided for by the Rwanda Education Board (REB) in consideration of the nature of their disability.” This means that schools for children with disabilities such as hearing, seeing, intellect have a special curriculum prepared by REB. However, that is only if those children, by virtue of their inability, cannot follow through like other learners who do not have disabilities. Otherwise, continues paragraph two, article 3 of ministerial order no. 006/2016 of 18/01/2016, those children “shall follow the curriculum and teaching hours provided for those other learners, and facilitated to acquire the appropriate learning materials.” Concerning the language of instruction, article 4 of ministerial order no.006/2016 of 18/01/2016 states: “In the first cycle of primary education, all subjects except English language shall be taught in Kinyarwanda.” In the second cycle of primary education, states article 5, all subjects except Kinyarwanda and French languages shall be taught in English. The same applies to secondary school schools according to article 6 of the ministerial order. This means that from primary one to primary three, the language of instruction in class should be Kinyarwanda while from primary four upwards, the language of instruction is English. However, article 7 paragraph two provides a special provision for persons with disabilities who cannot follow their education with other learners. It says that their language of instruction shall be determined by REB. At all levels of education, the ministerial order provides for physical education and sports. This is because physical education and sports activities are important for refreshing the mind, ridding the body of toxins and generally maintaining good health. At secondary school level, co-curricular activities such as Library and Clubs are compulsory. This is because co-curricular activities are good for improving creativity, communication, making friends among many other benefits. It is therefore important for your curriculum not to miss such crucial things.