The Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) has unveiled the 2010 – 2015 Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) that is in line with the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS). The strategic plan that was put in place by a presidential decree points out key targeted educational outcomes which all stakeholders must strive to achieve. According to the Minister of Education, Dr Charles Murigande, the ambitious plan is instrumental in making the education sector policies operational and fully incorporated into the government’s vision of economic development and poverty reduction. “The strategic plan aims at improving education, particularly skills development, to meet the labour demand by increasing the coverage and quality of nine-year basic education and strengthening post-basic education,” a statement by Minister Murigande says in part. It states that the plan also includes Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and higher education, but also general upper secondary education and teacher training. Speaking recently at a joint review meeting between the ministry of education and development partners, the State Minister for primary and secondary education Mathias Harebamungu said that in the strategic plan, the ministry had set standards which all levels of education must follow to ensure quality education. He said with the basic education level, pre-primary education requires that each classroom must have a maximum of 30 pupils while the primary level has to have a maximum of 46 pupils and teachers with at least diploma from a teacher training colleges (A2). For secondary level, teachers and non teaching staff like accountants and administrators must be degree holders (A0). Ends
