KIGALI: On 20/10/2020, the Ministry of Education in collaboration with Education Development Partners held a virtual Backward-Looking Joint Review of Education Sector for the Fiscal Year 2019/20. The objective is to engage   in policy dialogue and to ensure ownership, accountability and transparency of the sector priorities' implementation as highlighted in the Education Sector Strategic Plan ( ESSP ) , the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1), implementation and monitoring process.

  This 2019/20 Backward-Looking Joint Education Sector Review aimed at:

 -     Assessing  progress to achieve sector objectives with focus on 2019/20 targets for: NST1 selected indicators, selected sector performance indicators, and their corresponding policy actions and develop catch up strategies for areas lagging behind.

-     Presenting  and discussing  budget execution performance for 2019/20.

-    Highlighting  priority areas for the 2021/22 fiscal year that will inform the planning and budgeting process for institutions in the sector.

-     Reviewing  progress against implementation of recommendations from the last JSR meetings as well as summary of discussion on implementation of 2018/19 AOG recommendations.

-     Providing  the latest status on SDGs indicators already monitored by sectors and review the progress against the implementation of the plans and strategies to monitor the additional SDG indicators currently having clear computation methodologies.

  In her opening remarks, the Minister of Education Dr. Valentine UWAMARIYA said: "We are grateful to the collaboration and support already shown by various stakeholders in the implementation of education sector priority activities and more importantly remote/online instruction to ensure continuity of teaching and learning during this period when physical classes were closed as a result of corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic."

She later stressed that the continued combined efforts in meeting the ambitious targets of the Education Sector Strategic Plan will facilitate the achievement of the objectives of the competence-based curricula for both basic education and TVET.

 Ms. Julianna Lindsey , UNICEF's Country Representative to Rwanda  said "As we prepare to reopen schools, we have seen strong coordination through the Sector School Reopening Plan so we can bring students back to the classroom safely."

 To commend Rwanda's efforts, Ms. Lindsey said "    Rwanda has emerged as a global leader in building a stronger education system in the wake of COVID-19, constructing more schools and classrooms, expanding school feeding programmes, and recruiting more teachers.   

 While presenting  2019/2020 budget execution, the Permanent Secretary Mr. Samuel MULINDWA enumerated the Ministry's achievements  and especially during COVID-19 outbreak.

He said: "We had to turn to airing Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) related subject scripted lessons through Radio and TV channels as COVID-19 response. Close to 50 subject lessons have been aired through local broadcasting TV and radio channels "

 In her closing remarks, the Minister of State Claudette IRERE said: "As we are now reopening school, we need to rethink teaching and learning. In this context, blended mode of teaching would complement traditional place-based classroom methods. I want to reiterate the role of ICT in rethinking teaching and learning during Covid -19 era and beyond."

 Minister IRERE emphasized: "ICT solutions need to be applied in the current education indicators, which are compared to the ESSP targets as an effective way to monitor and mainstream the ESSP into our daily business." 

 The Ministry of Education and stakeholders meet twice a year for such a forum, one for a forward looking review and another one for a backward looking review. The last time they met was On 25 June 2020 whereby the Forward -Looking Joint Review of Education Sector set sector targets for 2020/21 fiscal year and related policy actions.

ENDS