Rwandan government to digitalize schools

The Rwandan government is moving to digitalize primary and secondary school curriculums based on the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) plan, which aims to provide each student with a laptop computer.

Rwanda is participating in the OLPC roll-out program, which the government said will be extended to all primary school children within five years.

The initiative is a move away from the traditional chalk-and-blackboard methodology, instead using ICT in curriculum development and transmission to students, said Théoneste Mutsindashyaka, Rwanda's minister of state for primary and secondary education.

Integrated science and technology in the education sector is one of the ministry's priorities, Mutsindashyaka said. Rwanda's ICT adviser is currently in India in order to adopt that country's digital science content, he affirmed, as the two countries have similar curriculums.

“The initiative will take a bit of time to implement because school personnel have first to be trained to use the system,” Mutsindashyaka said.

While the ministry hopes for all schools to make use of e-learning, details remain sketchy, as Mutsindashyaka was tight-lipped regarding the deal with OLPC and its cost.

Last year, Rwandan President Paul Kagame confirmed that a deal had been reached between the Rwandan government and OLPC to supply laptops to schools. Under the deal, Kagame said at the time, OLPC would provide laptops and support to fully test its concept at no cost to Rwanda.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.