Kigali 27 October 2023: The Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), in a collaborative effort with various Education Sector Development Partners (EDPs), convened the highly anticipated 2022/2023 Backward-Looking Joint Sector Review (BL-JSR) meeting. This event served as a platform for robust and detailed discussions while emphasizing the importance of evidence-based decision-making within Rwanda's educational landscape.

The one-day gathering commenced with an enlightening field visit to several schools in Kigali, offering participants an invaluable firsthand experience of the educational institutions' daily operations. The primary objective was to facilitate a comprehensive assessment of the current progress in relation to the 2022/23 National Strategy for Transformation (NST1), the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets. This assessment also provided a critical foundation for identifying key priorities to steer the education sector in the upcoming fiscal year of 2024/25.

Furthermore, attendees engaged in thoughtful retrospection, drawing from the wealth of knowledge and experience garnered from the implementation of NST1 and ESSP. These insights are poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the strategy for the next generation of educational development in Rwanda. The event unfolded through a series of well-structured presentations, stimulating panel discussions, and insightful dialogues, all of which were geared towards enriching the depth of the conversations and generating a thorough understanding of the current state of education in the country.

In his opening address at the Backward-Looking Joint Review of the Education Sector meeting, Permanent Secretary Charles Karakye underscored the timeliness of the forum, as it coincides with the final year of NST1 and ESSP, two strategic frameworks that have significantly guided the evolution of Rwanda's education system over the past five years.

Permanent Secretary Charles Karakye

He highlighted notable achievements during this period, including substantial improvements in teacher welfare through salary increases, the harmonization of school fees in public and government-subsidized schools, extensive school construction initiatives, and the expansion of school feeding programs across all grade levels.

The Backward-Looking Joint Review of the Education Sector meeting was marked by a diverse range of engaging sessions, encompassing detailed presentations, in-depth panel discussions, and comprehensive updates on milestones already achieved. It also ventured into the realm of future projections, offering a comprehensive outlook for the education sector in Rwanda.

Hon. Minister of State for Education

The event culminated with Hon. Claudette Irere, Minister of State for Education, expressing her profound appreciation for the invaluable role played by Education Development Partners in advancing Rwanda's education system. She passionately emphasized the need for continued collaboration, urging these partners to maintain their concerted efforts in alignment with the country's shared educational goals and the broader national vision. The significance of this collaboration is underscored by its direct impact on shaping the future of education in Rwanda, making it a vital component of the nation's developmental journey.