Rwanda has set its sights on becoming the information and communications technology hub of central Africa. A boom in infrastructure development is paving the way for this ambitious goal. Now, the country needs to modernize its education system to produce the talent that this new technology-heavy economy will demand.
EDC’s USAID-funded Literacy, Language, and Learning Initiative (L3) was a critical partner in the effort to usher in reforms across the education spectrum. Working with Rwanda’s Ministry of Education, L3 improved student achievement in reading and mathematics, engaged communities in supporting literacy, and increased access to appropriate teaching and learning materials.
With the goal of reaching 1.5 million learners and 30,000 teachers by 2017, L3 conducted the following activities:
- Developed and implemented new national literacy and mathematics standards
- Developed curricular materials (based on EDC’s Read Right Now! literacy program) that support literacy and mathematics learning in Kinyarwanda and English in grades 1 to 4
- Used interactive audio instruction to deliver high-quality education to all schools in Rwanda
- Improved teacher preparation and in-service performance
- Supported the capacity development of the Ministry of Education and Rwanda Education Board in assessment, materials development, and literacy oversight
- Improved equity in educational materials and delivery for girls, students with disabilities, and remote communities
- Worked with Rwandan communities to equip libraries, recruit literacy volunteers, and build support for reading
- Reached more than 25,290 teachers through pre-service, in-service, and intensive coaching programs
- Reached over 1,835,500 primary students in all 2,400 Rwandan primary schools
- Trained over 1,140 Parent Teacher Committees in supporting literacy learning
- Distributed over 9 million teaching and learning materials to schools
Concern Worldwide, The International Education Exchange, Ministry of Education, VSO, Never Again Rwanda