Laptops are transforming Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Rwanda, with instructors who once relied on chalkboards now integrating digital teaching materials into daily lessons and preparing students for a job market that increasingly demands digital competence. ALSO READ: 98% of TVET candidates pass national exams Elyse Tumushime, a teacher at Groupe Scolaire Batima Technical Secondary School (TSS) in Bugesera District, said her laptop is indispensable. “There are pedagogical documents I need every day as a teacher and the laptop helps me prepare schemes of work and lesson plans, which play a big role in classroom delivery,” Tumushime, an ICT instructor, told The New Times. “When a teacher has access to the right tools, learners receive structured content that is easier to understand,” she said. So far, about 5,200 laptops have been distributed to teachers in public and government-aided TVET schools, as part of an initiative to equip instructors with the right tools. ALSO READ: How TVET training for youth drives job creation According to Paul Umukunzi, the Director General of Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), they have coupled laptop distribution with digital skills training for the instructors, video tutorials, and capacity-building programs with a focus on integrating ICT into lesson planning, using educational software, and accessing online resources. “This initiative directly narrows the digital divide by giving teachers access to modern tools,” Umukunzi explained. “It allows them to create and use digital teaching materials, which in turn exposes students to technology and prepares them for a technology-driven workforce.” He emphasized that integrating technology is crucial for modernizing TVET education and making it relevant to industry demands. ALSO READ: Eight TVET centres of excellence unveiled in Rwf160bn project “Technology equips students with the digital skills needed for the job market, enhances learning through interactive content, and makes them a workforce ready for the digital era,” he said. Umukunzi also explained that the aim is not just to improve teaching but also to align Rwanda’s vocational training with global technological advancements, making graduates more competitive in the job market. “Beyond laptops, we are rolling out measures to accelerate the use of ICT in schools through continuous professional development for teachers. That now includes e-pedagogy, and an ePortfolio platform, set to be launched to support teachers’ daily work,” the official said. ALSO READ: How Starlink internet has enhanced learning in Rwanda Meanwhile, 348 TVET schools are already connected to 4G and fiber internet under government programs such as Smart Education Project (SEP) and Operation Green Network (OGN) and about 103 public TVET schools enjoy fiber connectivity at 25 Mbps, though reliability remains a challenge. In Burera District, Emmanuel Dusengimana, a computer architecture trainer at Cyanika TSS, highlighted how laptops have improved his research and teaching. “I can teach the content I have researched myself. With internet access, I store my documents online, so I don’t lose them if the computer crashes. My students are all benefiting from the way laptops have strengthened my teaching,” he said. ALSO READ: What new changes in education sector mean for quality learning Patricie Uwitonze, an administrator at Groupe Scolaire Huma in Gakenke District, noted that access to computers has had a significant impact on teachers. “The combination of one laptop per trainer and expanded internet access is already having a positive impact on the quality of education,” he said. Rwanda’s ICT Sector Strategic Plan By 2029, the government aims to achieve nationwide 4G coverage, expand high-speed internet to schools and public institutions, and modernize digital infrastructure. Alongside this, at least 1.5 million citizens will be trained in coding and advanced ICT skills, with 50,000 digital jobs created to serve both local and global markets. Beyond internet connectivity, the government is also developing offline content for eLearning and digital libraries, equipped with caching and synchronization features to ensure resources remain accessible even when the connection is unstable. Government partnerships with telecom companies are exploring affordable solutions, including zero-rating educational platforms, officials said.
