The Minister of State for Education, Irere Claudette, has highlighted the growing cooperation between Rwanda and Zimbabwe in teacher exchange programmes as a significant milestone demonstrating that meaningful collaboration among African countries is both possible and effective.
She made the remarks on Monday, 22 December 2025, while presiding over the conclusion of an orientation programme for more than 140 Zimbabwean teachers forming the second cohort received by Rwanda. The teachers are set to begin teaching in various schools across the country.
The event took place at Ntare Louisenlund School in Bugesera District and was attended by senior officials, including Zimbabwe’s Minister responsible for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, the Ambassador of Zimbabwe to Rwanda, and other dignitaries. It was held under the theme: “Partnerships for Advancing Quality Education.”
Speaking to the media, Minister Irere emphasized the importance of African countries working together to reduce dependence on external partners, promote knowledge exchange, and improve the quality of education across the continent.
“As African countries, we are not yet accustomed to working closely with one another. Often, when we seek expertise, we look beyond the continent. This partnership is a positive step, as Zimbabwe has valuable experience and expertise, and its teachers are contributing directly to our education system,” she said.
The newly arrived teachers join 157 Zimbabwean educators from the first cohort, who arrived in Rwanda in September 2022. According to the Minister, the first group has already made a noticeable and positive impact on teaching and learning outcomes in the schools where they were deployed.
“Where they have been working, we have seen clear and measurable improvements. We are confident that this second cohort will further strengthen our schools by enhancing students’ learning and supporting fellow teachers,” she added.
Irere commended the strong bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and Zimbabwe, praising the commitment, professionalism, and dedication demonstrated by the first cohort of teachers. She encouraged the second group to follow the same example by upholding high professional standards, teamwork, good conduct, and a learner-centred approach aimed at improving education quality and national development.
She further noted that the programme has played a key role in strengthening the use of English as the language of instruction in Rwandan schools. Since English is the primary medium used by the visiting teachers, students—and trainee teachers in teacher training colleges—benefit from full immersion, enabling them to graduate with stronger language proficiency.
“As a country, we adopted English as the language of instruction, which posed challenges in some teacher training institutions, where graduates lacked sufficient proficiency. What we now observe, especially during school visits, is a marked improvement in students’ command of English,” she said.
The teacher exchange programme is anchored in a bilateral cooperation agreement signed between Rwanda and Zimbabwe in December 2021, aimed at strengthening teaching and learning through the exchange of educators.
The newly deployed teachers are expected to report to their respective duty stations starting Tuesday, 23 December 2025. They will be assigned to Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs) and selected model schools across the country.
The Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) has reaffirmed its appreciation for the contribution of Zimbabwean teachers, noting that their involvement continues to play a meaningful role in advancing the quality of education in Rwanda.
