Prime Minister Dr Edouard Ngirente announced the plan on June 19, 2025, during an address to a joint session of Parliament, where he outlined the Government's progress in improving the welfare of Rwandans.
In the education sector, the Prime Minister noted that more than 22,000 new classrooms have been constructed in under a year, along with a significant increase in the number of teachers across all levels of schooling.
Dr Ngirente was responding to a question about what the government is doing to address the issue of teachers who lack sufficient proficiency in English, the language of instruction.
He explained that the issue is being tackled through teacher training programmes where Zimbabwean educators have been brought in to train future Rwandan teachers. He also revealed plans to recruit more.
'You may recall that we brought in teachers from Zimbabwe, and we are currently planning to bring in even more,' he said.
It is expected that around 150 teachers will be brought in during this phase, adding to the 154 already in the country.
'The majority of those we brought in are English teachers working in Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs), to ensure that future educators are well-versed in English. That's why we've invested heavily in TTCsâ€"providing them with the necessary facilities and resources. Even during school construction, TTCs were given priority so they could be adequately equipped. These Zimbabwean teachers will help ensure that graduates are capable of teaching in English, even at the primary school level,' he said.
However, he acknowledged that the current number of TTCs, which stands at only 16 nationwide, is insufficient to meet the country's teacher training needs.
Proficiency tests
Dr Ngirente also announced that current teachers will be required to undergo two years of English language training, after which they must take a proficiency test. Those who pass will retain their positions, while those who fail will be replaced.
'TTCs cannot produce enough graduates to fill all teaching positions across the country. Therefore, we will gradually replace existing teachers as more English-proficient graduates come out of TTCs.'
He added, 'Current teachers will have two years to learn English while still teaching. After that, they'll take an examâ€"those who pass will remain, and those who fail will leave the profession. The programme lasts three years, with two years focused on learning while they work. Failing to teach in English effectively means failing to qualify as a teacher.'
A 2018 World Bank report highlighted the urgent need for English language training among teachers, revealing that only 38% of teachers from Primary 1 to 3 had sufficient English proficiency.
A document released by the Ministry of Education on February 26, 2024, indicated that only 4% of current teachers possess intermediate to advanced English skills, even though English is the official language of instruction.
Rwanda adopted English as the medium of instruction in 2008, replacing French. In 2011, the policy stipulated that English would be introduced from Primary 4 onwards, with the first three years taught in Kinyarwanda. However, this was revised in 2019, and English is now used as the language of instruction starting from Primary 1.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-to-recruit-more-teachers-from-zimbabwe
