22.06.2020

Prime Minister Dr Edouard Ngirente officially launched the School Construction Program on Saturday, 20th June 2020 at Kabirizi Primary School in Tabagwe Sector, Nyagatare District.

This program is aimed at improving quality of education by increasing the number of classrooms and related latrines across the country to reduce the overcrowding in classrooms and long distance to and from school.

While addressing the participants, the Prime Minister said that this mass school construction program comes as a response to several challenges related to the quality of education.

"It will reduce overcrowding in classrooms, hence facilitating teachers to manage classrooms with a reasonable number of students, and it will also reduce long distance travelled by students to and from school", said Dr. Edouard Ngirente.

The Prime Minister further recalled that the seven-year Government program targets, among others, to promote the Vocational and Technical Education (TVET). In this regard, he noted that additional 81 TVET schools will be constructed in this program. A TVET school will be added to every 9/12 year basic education school, so as to give more options for those who complete 9 basic education to either continue their studies in vocation training or general education.

The Prime Minister stressed that the Government of Rwanda has put a lot of efforts into this program, where it is expected that in the next three months more than ten thousand classrooms and toilets will be built.

He also emphasized that the Government of Rwanda will continue to improve the welfare of teachers and develop their capacity for teaching.

Government mobilized for the launch at country level 

 All Cabinet Members who are Government Focal Persons (Imboni) in their respective districts officiated construction activities at different identified sites .

This exercise themed ’Friendly School Environment, a Basis of Appropriate Learning Process  (Amashuri Abereye Abanyeshuri, Isoko y’Imyigire Ikwiye “aims at availing primary, secondary and TVET classrooms and latrines  by September 2020 when schools will reopen

As other cabinet members, all the senior officials of the Ministry of Education officiated construction works in different districts,

Dr. Valentine UWAMARIYA officiated the construction works in Nyanza where 720 classrooms and 1018 latrines will be constructed.

Minister of State in charge of Primary and Secondary Education Mr. Gaspard TWAGIRAYEZU officiated construction works at EP Nyange in Gakenke district where 18 classrooms and 12 latrines will be constructed and a total number of 516 classrooms and 746 latrines are expected to be built by the end of August 2020.

Minister of State in Charge of TVET and ICT Mrs Claudette IRERE officiated the construction works at GS Mwendo in Nyarugenge district where 20 classrooms will be constructed and a total number of 408 classrooms and 558 latrines will be constructed in the whole district.

Permanent Secretary , Mr. Samuel MULINDWA  officiated the launch of construction works at  EP Ruduha in Bugesera district, where 12 classrooms and 18 latrines will be constructed , whereby 878 classrooms and 1246 latrines will be constructed.

Senior officials from the Ministry’s agencies also officiated the launch of classrooms construction at different sites countrywide.

These construction works were done in accordance with the existing measures to contain spread of the COVID – 19, and construction workers were reminded to always observe these instructions throughout the period of construction such as wearing masks at all construction sites, maintenance of a safe social distance and washing hands  to ensure hygiene.

END