Rwanda, USAID celebrate the Completion of Soma Umenye School Leaders Orientation
USAID Chief of Party hands Book to DG REB
Karongi–On September 22nd, Director General of Rwanda Education Board (REB) Dr. Irénée Ndayambaje, celebrated the completion of USAID Soma Umenye Orientation of School Leaders in Karongi District.
More than 4,600 Primary One (P1) Kinyarwanda teachers have recently completed their training in effective methods of teaching Kinyarwanda.
The School Leaders’ orientation presented an overview of the USAID Soma Umenye project, focusing on how the project is ensuring effective teaching of Kinyarwanda in early grades with a particular focus on P1.
As a result of the orientation, School Leaders have a clear understanding of how P1 Kinyarwanda teachers have been trained and have clear expectations of improved Kinyarwanda teaching and learning. In addition, School Leaders now understand their role in supporting teachers to achieve improved learner performance.
The one-day orientation was delivered to 3,038 School Leaders, including District Director of Education (DDEs), District Education Officers (DEOs), Sector Education officers (SEOs) and head teachers, in all the 30 Districts of Rwanda.
The role of School Leaders will expand as USAID Soma Umenye delivery of text books and teacher training expands to P2 and P3 Kinyarwanda teachers in 2019.
“I thank USAID and REB to have thought about this orientation activity. If we own and implement things that we evoked here, we will successfully increase the number of children who read Kinyarwanda fluently in third grade at our respective schools. They gave us curriculum materials, they trained us and the Kinyarwanda teachers; in fact, they have equipped us with everything.” declared Ndahiro Cassien, the School Leader at Mulinga Primary School in Gatsibo District when they concluded their School Leaders Orientation last weekend.
USAID Soma Umenye (“Read and Know”) is a partnership between USAID and REB targeting every public and government-aided primary school in Rwanda with the goal of improving the quality of reading of at least one million students. USAID Soma Umenye works directly with REB to develop text books and teachers guides, to provide teacher training, and to implement effective assessment to achieve this essential reading goal.
“Successful students are taught by effective teachers who are monitored and coached by effective School Leaders. Therefore, you are given the orientation to make sure you understand what it takes to effectively teach Kinyarwanda and how you can support the Kinyarwanda teachers to make it happen.” explained the Director General of the Rwanda Education Board (REB), Dr. Irénée Ndayamabaje, addressing the School Leaders during their orientation in Karongi District.
As part of the orientation, USAID Soma Umenye handed over to the School Leaders the P1 Kinyarwanda Read Aloud Book – which contains stories that the Kinyarwanda teachers read to students – to complement the student textbooks and the teacher guides.
