In partnership with Mastercard Foundation, the Teaching Assistantships Project is being pilotedby Inspire, Educate and Empower Rwanda (IEE) a Rwandan local Education NGO. Mastercard Foundation supports a range of human development initiatives and in the case of Rwanda, the Teaching Assistantships Project joins Mastercard Foundation-supported Leaders in Teaching Initiative- a consortium of education partnersimplementing projects supporting science, math and ICT knowledge. The Leaders in Teaching Initiative has four pillars upon which its work rests: the RECRUIT pillar aims at attracting smart, passionate young people with an interest in education to the teaching profession; the TRAIN pillar aims at strengthening pre-service and in-service teacher training opportunities and leverage technology as a tool for teaching and learning; the LEAD pillar is aimed at helping school leaders create positive instructional environments for teachers through mentorship and coaching opportunities; and the MOTIVATE pillar aims at elevating the status of the teaching profession by celebrating and rewarding teachers and their accomplishments. Teaching Assistantships Project is aimed at contributing to the Leaders in Teaching Initiative under the RECRUIT pillar. The project is involving 150 female high school graduates who are beneficiaries of the Mastercard Scholars Programme, to take up positions as Teaching Assistants at 75 schools in 15 districts in Rwanda. The Teaching Assistants are working alongside qualified teachers, providing support to students in maths and science for up to six months. The Teaching Assistantships Project is designed to attract the best and brightest students to the teaching profession and to equip them with relevant experiences and skills. In fulfillingits commitment to supporting livelihoods and opportunities for young people in Africa, particularly women, to secure dignified and fulfilling work by 2030, Mastercard Foundation through the Teaching Assistantships Project is also complementing ambitions of the Ministry of Education in Rwanda, to nurture a teaching force, particularly for Science, Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM), during the current Education Sector Strategic Plan period of 2018/19- 2014/25, for effective delivery of the competency-based curriculum which is in implementation since 2016. Ultimately, the Teaching Assistantships Project intends to inspire the Teaching Assistants to take up teaching careers or consider education as area of further academic study. The Teaching Assistantships Project recognizes a range of stakeholders to support its implementation. At national government level; Ministry of Education, Rwanda Education Board, at local government level, District Education Officers, Directors of Education andSector Education Officers, and at implementation level; Head Teachers, Directors of Studies, teachers and students. IEE will coordinate with the National Itorero Commission (NIC) for effective integration of Teaching Assistantships Project activities into civic activities for school leavers. IEE will also coordinate with FAWE Rwanda-implemented Mastercard Scholars Program, members of the Leaders in Teaching Initiative, and the wider Rwandan community to support activities of the Teaching Assistantships Project. Kigali, June 21, 2019 Enquiries and communication may be addressed to: ieerwanda.directorate.org@gmail.com.
