Kigali,16/11/2020, The Ministry of Education held a press conference on teacher’s placement and gradual school reopening status after the first batch of students goes to school subsequent to temporary closure of schools due to the global outbreak of COVID-19 from 16 March 2020.

Various local and international media houses were invited and the press conference was held in respect of COVID-19 prevention measures.

In her press briefing, the Minister of Education Dr. Valentine UWAMARIYA said that the Ministry of Education decided to reopen schools after the resolutions of the cabinet meeting held on 25th September 2020 that decided to resume schools gradually.

Initially, Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs) that were ready to resume lessons were authorized to do so. From 12th October 2020, 17 public and private HLIs opened, whereas the first phase of Basic Education and TVET resumed classes on 2nd November 2020. The second phase will resume classes on 23rd November 2020 following the publication of basic education and TEVET academic calendar for 2020/21 on 13th October 2020.

In regard to the turn-up of pupils, Dr. UWAMARIYA stressed that Primary 5 and Primary 6 pupils’ attendance at country level stands at 89.0% of all pupils that were expected at school since 2nd November 2020. In Secondary schools, the general turn-up is 91% (Senior 3, Senior 5, Senior6, Technical Vocational Education and Training level 3-5, and Teacher Training Centers year 1-3) that already started.

The Minister of State in Charge of Primary and secondary Education, Mr. Gaspard TWAGIRAYEZU, presented the teacher placement process of which results were published on 30th October 2020. He said that at pre-primary and primary level only 3732 candidates (teachers) were placed in all districts while there was a need of 18039 teachers and this indicates that 14307 teachers are still needed.

Candidates for primary and pre-primary schools include those who did Early Childhood education, Mathematics & Sciences, Social and Religious studies as well as Normal Primaire. 

In secondary schools, 2673 candidates were placed in all districts and there was a need of 6371 teachers countrywide and this means that there is still a need of 3,698 new teachers in secondary schools.

The Minister of State in Charge of ICT and TVET, Mrs. Claudette IRERE said that TVET 340 teachers were placed countrywide in existing public and government-aided TVET Schools, and new TVET Schools.

Referring to the lessons learnt during COVID-19 lockdown, where pupils and students were facilitated to study through E-Learning process, IRERE said that the Government of Rwanda is committed to promote ICT in education.

“With the experience we have, we are now equipped with all it requires to prepare e-learning content for our students. We have started negotiations with telecommunications companies so that the cost of the internet is lowered for all schools, from basic education to higher learning education.

In line with the promotion of ICT in education policy, Minister of State IRERE stressed that the Ministry of Education is aware that some students from private higher learning institutions don’t have access to laptops for their academic performance.

She said that the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Higher Education Council are planning to enter into discussions with concerned offices so that higher learning students who don’t have laptops can have then at a lower price when they want to buy them.

The Press conference was an occasion to reiterate the strategic resolutions taken by the Education Sector to respect COVID-19 preventive measures in schools and the next cohort of students will resume classes on 23th November 2020. These include Primary 4 pupils, Senior 1, Senior 2 and Senior 4 students countrywide both in public and private schools which follow the National Programme.