Dr. Murigande's career has been extensive, having served as the former Rector of the National University of Rwanda, Minister of Education, and most recently as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Advancement at the University of Rwanda. Despite retiring, he remains actively involved in education as Chairman of the Board at Kepler College.
In addition to his contributions to education, Dr. Murigande has had a distinguished political career, holding positions such as Rwanda's Ambassador to Japan, Secretary General of the RPF-Inkotanyi party, and ministerial roles in Foreign Affairs, Transport and Communications, Education, and Cabinet Affairs.
Improving the quality of education
According to Dr. Murigande, the term "quality education" is often used without a full understanding of what it entails or how to achieve it. He likened it to preparing a meal, where quality ingredients are essential for success. In education, the most crucial "ingredient" is the teacher.
'A well-trained, passionate teacher who views teaching as a calling, and is equipped with the necessary tools, can have a significant impact. Even under challenging conditions, a great teacher can deliver excellent results,' he emphasized.
Dr. Murigande also highlighted the importance of effective school management, discipline, and student focus as key factors for improving education. Additionally, he pointed out the impact of teacher-to-student ratios, noting that smaller class sizes allow for more individualized attention, leading to better outcomes.
He challenged the notion that Rwanda's education system was better in the past, explaining that such comparisons are flawed. For example, Rwanda once had only 50,000 secondary school students in total, meaning that only 5% of primary school graduates advanced to secondary education.
Today, access to secondary education is far more widespread, and the top 5% of current graduates are just as competitive globally as their counterparts from prestigious universities like Cambridge and Oxford.
'What has shaped people's perception of declining education quality is the democratization of education. As more students enter the system, not all have the same abilities. Our focus now should be on raising the capabilities of all students going through the system,' he stated.
Dr. Murigande suggested several measures to address these challenges, including ensuring that all teachers are well-qualified. He acknowledged that while progress cannot be made overnight, improving teacher quality is essential for long-term success.
He also reflected on past practices where lower-performing students were often channeled into teacher training, but noted that the Ministry of Education has corrected this, now admitting top-performing students into the profession.
Although there are still teachers who entered the system before these reforms, Dr. Murigande advocated for additional training to improve their skills and ensure they can meet today's educational demands.
Leadership changes in the Ministry of Education
Dr. Murigande also discussed why the Ministry of Education has experienced frequent leadership changes, with 17 ministers serving in the last 30 years, including the most recent appointment of Joseph Nsengimana.
He attributed these changes to the government's recognition of education as a cornerstone for national development. 'No development is possible without quality education, which produces individuals capable of addressing the country's challenges and implementing solutions,' he noted.
Given education's critical role, Dr. Murigande explained that when expectations are not met, the government doesn't wait passively for improvements. Instead, it acts swiftly, changing leadership in hopes of finding new approaches to deliver better results.
While acknowledging that leadership changes can sometimes cause short-term disruption, Dr. Murigande views them as calculated risks.
'You could leave things as they are, but that might not lead to progress. Change, though disruptive at first, can often bring about the faster results we need once the right solutions are found,' he observed.
Théophile Niyitegeka
