The Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimana, announced a 6% decline in student absenteeism for the 2024/25 school year, crediting the success to the government’s ‘Gahunda Nzamurabushobozi’ program.
He made the announcement during the launch of the State of Education Conference 2026, which brought together education leaders and stakeholders.
The program supports primary and secondary students who have fallen behind, allowing them to catch up on missed lessons during school breaks and reducing the likelihood of absenteeism.
“This shows that when we act with direction, tangible results follow,” Minister Nsengimana said.
The ministry continues to focus on increasing enrollment and ensuring quality education. Enrollment in early childhood education has reached 50.3%, while primary school absenteeism has dropped to 4.9%, thanks to ongoing initiatives, including feeding programs that cover 99% of schoolchildren.
Challenges such as overcrowded classrooms persist, but measures are underway to expand infrastructure. Between 2017 and 2024, more than 27,500 classrooms were constructed.
Currently, around 4.8 million Rwandans—nearly one-third of the population—are in school. Improvements in facilities are ongoing, with 88% of schools connected to electricity, 84% to water, and internet access steadily expanding.
