Global education partnership meets in Kigali

The quality of education will receive a major boost following the ongoing high level discussions by stakeholders in the sector. The Board of Directors of the Education for All Fast Track Initiative (EFA FTI), is meeting in Kigali for 3 days (May 17- 19), to set policies for the EFA FTI Partnership and new strategies for education in fragile and post-conflict states, girls’ education and the improving the quality of learning “Having made vast strides towards ensuring all children actually go to school, the Rwandan Ministry of Education is increasing its attention to ensuring that education quality is improved,” Sharon Haba, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of education, said. “EFA FTI has been a catalyst in promoting universal basic education across the world, and Rwanda is extremely privileged to host these meetings.” The EFA FTI is an international partnership of developing and donor countries, civil society organizations and multilateral agencies dedicated to ensuring quality basic education for all children. According to the Ministry of Education, EFA FTI has been a key partner for Rwandan education since 2007. “In that year (2007), Rwanda’s ambitious goals for providing basic education for all Rwandan children was endorsed by the EFA FTI with a two-year grant. This support was supplemented by subsequent grants totaling $175 million, covering the period 2009 – 2013,” Haba said, adding that the support has contributed towards the outstanding progress in Rwanda’s basic education sector in the last three years. Statistics from the Ministry indicate that Enrollment in basic education doubled between 1998 and 2009, to reach 2.2 million students in 2008. Primary completion has climbed from 52% in 2007 to 75% in 2009, while the proportion of children completing primary school who progress to secondary education has jumped from 53% in 2007 to 95% in 2009. Having made vast strides towards ensuring all children actually go to school, the Rwandan Ministry of Education is increasing its attention to ensuring that education quality is improved. Rwanda’s new Education Sector Strategic Plan 2010-15 sets out the Ministry’s plans to overcome the challenges it faces in this area. “The goals are ambitious for example, the teacher–student ratio is targeted to fall from its present level of 63 to 47 by 2015. However, the Ministry is fully committed to ensuring their achievement,” Haba added. A joint statement from the EFA FTI and Ministry of Education read: “In recognition of Rwanda’s determination to achieve the goal of universal primary completion, the EFA FTI Partnership has allocated significant financial resources to the Rwandan education sector over the past years. With financing a key constraint to achieving the country’s education sector plan, this support will make a huge contribution towards the success of the plan. Indeed, earlier EFA FTI funding proved to have a catalytic effect in attracting other partners to support the sector. A repeat of this catalytic effect will be crucial.” Ends

National

Global education partnership meets in Kigali