26.06.2020

KIGALI: On 25 June 2020, The Ministry of Education in collaboration with Education Development Partners held a virtual Forward –Looking Joint Review of Education Sector (JRES) in order to engage all stakeholders in policy dialogue and to ensure ownership, accountability and transparency of the NST 1 implementation and monitoring process.

 This 2020/21 Forward Looking Joint Education Sector Review aimed at:

-         presenting and discussing areas prioritized during the planning and budgeting process;

-         discussing and validating the 2020/21 sector targets and related policy actions;

-          selecting policy related studies to be conducted in 2020/21 fiscal year;

-          assessing progress towards implementation of the 2019/20 policy actions and present plans and strategies for monitoring SDG indicators.

 In her opening remarks, the Minister of Education Dr. Valentine UWAMARIYA argued that: “Following the outbreak and spread of COVID-19 virus and in accordance with instructions from health authorities to mitigate its further spread in the country, particularly by avoiding larger physical gatherings, we were obliged to hold the Joint Sector Review meeting online.”

Addressing Development partners she urged them to continue supporting the sector. “I would like to request all EDPs for your continued support in education by filling the existing gaps and addressing challenges in harmony with our ESSP 2018/19-/2023/2024 priority areas” she said.

 The Government of Rwanda was commended for a quick response to help students study remotely during the Covid 19 crisis. This was mentioned by Sarah Metcalf DFID Rwanda country representative in her speech: “Rwanda has been particularly quick to provide home learning opportunities to children through Radio, TV and through online platforms, this illustrates the collaboration between the Government and Development Partners and Civil Society. “

DFID Country Representative continued by saying: “The Government’s negotiation with telecommunications companies   to enable free access to content learning portals serving all education subsectors is another very welcomed development “. Sarah committed DFID continued support even though she will be leaving soon as her work contract is coming to an end.

Different presentations focused on Sector Policies actions and indicators, Sector Priorities and budget allocation for FY2020/21, SDG4 plans or strategies for monitoring SDG indicators.

While presenting the Policies actions and indicators, Director General of Education Policy and Planning, Mrs. Rose BAGUMA said: “We will focus on pledges made in the last year’s JRES, and see our next FY’s target.”

Among the target for the next year, she mentioned that there is a plan to establish and strengthen the school feeding programme in Rwandan primary schools.

Referring to challenges, DG Rose said: “Drop out is still a concern and we are going to do an awareness campaign countrywide to fight against dropout in collaboration with other partners especially local government, and make sure we have parental involvement.”

When the Permanent Secretary Mr. Samuel MULINDWA presented the Sector budget allocation for the current fiscal year 2020/21, he asserted: “We are very much delighted that this fiscal year we’ve had a substantive increase in terms of budget, where if you compare the budget we got in this fiscal year it is increased by almost 62% and this is due to planned mass school construction and school feeding for primary in FY 2020/21.”.

In his closing remarks, Hon. Minister of State Gaspard TWAGIRAYEZU advised: “As we look forward to reopening doors to our children in these unusual times, we will expect that each one of us work hand in hand so that we can give our best to the students.”

He later emphasized: “Our reopening preparedness is a challenge that we cannot underestimate, in these next two months we will need to ensure that the schools are as ready as they can be and this will include ensuring that they have enough hygienic infrastructure that is going to keep our children healthy once they go back to school “

MINEDUC and partners usually gather twice a year for such a forum, one for a forward looking review and another time for a backward looking review. The last time they met was 15 October 2019 whereby the Backward-Looking Joint Review of Education Sector examined achievements made in 2018/2019 and set Priorities for 2019/2020.

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