Rwanda Secondary School Enrollment Increases More Than 20-Times in 32 Years

 

Secondary School Enrollment Increases More Than 20-Times in 32 Years

The Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimana, announced that Rwanda's education sector has made significant progress over the past 32 years, ranging from infrastructure development to attendance rates. Notably, secondary school enrollment has grown from 37,000 to 787,000 students, representing a more than 20-fold increase.

Speaking at the National Dialogue Council (Umushyikirano) held on February 6, 2026, Minister Nsengimana explained that immediately following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the education system was destroyed, and the Rwandan government had to rebuild from scratch.

"Schools had been destroyed, but more importantly, many teachers had been killed, and many others fled. Beyond that, looking at the education policy that existed then, it was an exclusionary policy, an education meant for only a few," he said.

Minister Nsengimana explained that over the past 32 years, the Rwandan government has corrected this issue by establishing a policy to open the doors of education to all Rwandans.

Dramatic Growth Metrics

"And that step has been achieved. I will give you three examples," the Minister stated, highlighting the progress:

1. Pre-Primary Education: Before 1994, nursery schools were rare. Currently, there are over 680,000 children enrolled in these schools, ensuring they are prepared for formal education.

2. Secondary Education: In 1994, only 37,000 students were enrolled in secondary schools. Today, that number has reached 787,000, confirming that the goal of expanding educational access has been achieved and embraced by Rwandans.

3. Higher Education: By 1994, only 2,000 people had gone through universities in Rwanda. In the past year alone, the University of Rwanda graduated over 9,000 students.

Addressing Challenges and Future Goals

Minister Nsengimana noted that despite this progress, Rwanda has not yet reached its desired level of education quality. Achieving this goal requires the collaboration of all Rwandans. He urged parents to take care of their children from a young age and closely monitor their education.

He identified classroom overcrowding as a major obstacle but highlighted the government's ongoing efforts to build classrooms, noting that between 2017 and 2024, 27,500 new classrooms were constructed.

"Another issue is that we have old schools that need renovation. I would specifically mention government-aided schools, religious schools, because they are many. It is about seeing how we collaborate with those religious institutions to renovate those schools," Nsengimana added.

The Minister announced plans to train teachers, particularly in English, to ensure they effectively contribute to nurturing Rwanda's youth, while also emphasizing accountability for educators.