The academic year 2015 will begin on 26 January 2014 with over 1,082 new fully furnished classrooms and 444 new toilets. The new classrooms and toilets cost RwF 8 billion (US $11.6 million). To date, 11, 340 new classrooms have been built since 2009 when the 9 Year Basic Education programme was introduced. In 2013, the programme was expanded to 12 years of basic education.
The new classrooms are part of the government’s plan to increase equitable access to 12 years of basic education for all Rwandan children. The classrooms were build in all 30 districts across the country and include the construction of multi-story buildings that aim to solve the issue of space that some schools in Kigali have faced.
Olivier Rwamukwaya, the Minister of State in Charge of Primary and Secondary Education said, “Since we started free universal education in Rwanda, we have seen tremendous results. Today, young Rwandans have the opportunity to pursue different forms of higher education, such as university or technical training, thanks so a solid start at the primary and secondary level. The newly constructed classrooms will increase capacity, allowing more children to enrol in school while reducing class sizes.”
Minister Rwamukwaya added that Rwanda has made considerable strides to ensure universal education for all, one of the most important Millennium Development Goals. This has been the result of the 12 Years of Basic Education Programme, which is also having a direct impact on the quality of education and preparing young people with the skills to enter the labour market.
Rwanda is also investing significantly in developing technical schools as 60% of students completing secondary school are expected to join technical schools by 2017.
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