We managed the implementation of Innovation for Education, a DFID-funded programme which offered the opportunity to test new ideas to improve the quality of children’s education in Rwanda.
Key facts
- The programme comprised two funds – the Innovation for Education Fund (IfE) and the Capacity Development Fund (CDF) – which form part of Rwanda’s Education Sector Strategic Plan to improve completion rates and reduce drop-out and repetition, particularly for girls.
- A range of civil society and other organisations from within the country and abroad have piloted 26 innovative projects. These were tested on the ground in classrooms, schools and other education institutions over two years.
- Successful innovations have been adopted by the Rwandan Ministry of Education and implemented on a nation-wide scale.
- The capacity of the Ministry of Education has been further strengthened to manage changes and give these a central place in education systems.
Challenges
Key challenges involved identifying the need and winning funding to create an 'enabling environment' to ensure innovation would continue, under the ministry of Education's leadership, beyond the 26 innovation pilot projects we are helping to deliver.
Solution
In driving the improvement of teaching and learning, the programme has forged active partnerships with key players to strengthen systems – using new technologies, methods, structures and skills. Our primary role involved managing funds and raising awareness among target groups. We were also responsible for disseminating lessons learned and bringing together parties to learn from innovative approaches and develop them further to scale.
Value and benefits
- Developing innovative, cost-effective models of education service provision has the potential to improve education quality for children throughout Rwanda.
- Our efforts have resulted in a significantly higher number of girls benefiting from and completing their education.
- Through managing the education programme, we have also contributed to Rwanda’s goal to become a middle-income, knowledge-based country by 2020.