The Government has secured approximately Rwf1 billion in collaboration with the UK’s Department for international development (DFID) and Building Learning Foundations (BLF) to supply primary schools with learning tools. BLF is an initiative of the Rwanda Ministry of Education and the Rwanda Education Board that anchors on establishing solid foundations at the lower primary level. “Today marks the official launch of the activity to distribute learning and teaching materials that will reinforce improved learning in English and Mathematics in all government and government-aided primary schools,” said the State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Isaac Munyakazi. “On behalf of the Government of Rwanda, I would like to thank BLF our partners that endeavour to improve learning outcomes by boosting the quality of English and Mathematics at lower primary level and strengthening leadership for learning”. The distribution targets to reach over 2.6 million students in the whole country from p1-p3. “The distribution will mark the first time that every lower primary student will have their own book to support English language learning and every lower primary classroom will have the essential teaching and learning materials necessary to support competency-based education,” REB officials emphasised. “These materials not only represent tremendous support and commitment from our partners, BLF and DFID, but they also signal the commitment we need from teachers, school leaders, and education leaders from local to central level to utilise these materials effectively and ensure children gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to better their lives”. While pupils receive their learning material, the project was designed by the BLF programme in a 360-degree approach which does not only provide hands-on materials, but it also trains teachers to gain better English language and methodology skills and training head teachers to become leaders of learning. The programme is built on three foundations namely, to ensure long term, sustainable impact: teacher development, leadership for learning and system strengthening. “The training introduced me to a new methodology of teaching my pupils, and the teachers’ toolkit was something new, but I have seen my pupils show more interest and ask me to go on with a lesson even during their break-time,” said Emmanuel Neza, a primary two English teacher at GS Nduba. editor@newtimesrwanda.com
