Rwandan govt agrees education grant

26/10/2009

The government of Rwanda has agreed a new deal with the World Bank to provide funds to finance a new education policy.

New Times reports that $35 million (£21.5 million) will be provided under the Fast Track Initiative to help improve the level of basic education delivered across Rwanda.

"This adds value and commitment to the entire sector. This contribution is very important because it targets those key areas of basic education," said James Musoni, the minister of finance and economic planning.

He explained that it was vital to ensure good standards of education in order to achieve long-term and widespread wealth creation.

The grant will finance a number of projects including teacher training, selection of text books as well as the development of a policy to improve the education of female students.

Government figures report that the number of students enrolled in lower education has risen from 72 per cent in 2000 to 92 per cent.

Rwanda's ministry of education estimates that the majority of the 400,000 students not attending primary schools are girls.

Written by Dan Parr.VSO Canada