VSO is an International NGO that operates

in Rwanda since 1998 by invitation of the

Ministry of Education. Since then, it has

deployed more than 400 highly experi-

enced professionals working as volun-

teers to assist with realization of

Rwanda’s development vision of becoming

a middle income country by 2020.

VSO Rwanda operates in all five provinc-

es of the country; Kigali city, Northern

Province, Southern, Eastern and Western

province. It is currently working in 15

districts. As part of its crusade against

poverty, VSO Rwanda is delivering change

at the national, district and community

level with highly skilled international

volunteers and national volunteers.

Volunteers work with district offices,

local NGOs, school and various govern-

ment institutions on education, livelihood,

health and governance related themes.

VSO Rwanda is a leading education devel-

opment force that creates agents of

change through the capacity building

work of volunteers.

Inside story,

VSO at glance

EQUECER Project over-

view.

Phase2 project achieve-

ments

By: Claude Gilbert KAMBA

EQUECER Project background

VSO at Glance

The project is built upon previous work done in 3 TTCs namely; TTC Kirambo, TTC Bicumbi and TTC Save from 2014 – 2015, scaling-up work to

an additional 13 TTCs. The project provides intensive training, mentoring and coaching to13 TTCs and support to 65 early childhood education

(ECE) centers in the vicinity of the TTCs where student’s teachers go for teaching practice.

To improve the quality of education in ECE the EQUECER project train, coach and mentor TTC tutors, student teachers, as well as the in-

service ECE teachers on the use of Learner Centered Methodology to implement the new competence based curriculum and development of

low/no cost teaching and learning materials.

The EQUECER project is UNICEF founded project..

Enhancing Quality of Early Childhood Education in Rwanda

EQUECER NEWSLETTER December 2016

EQUECER Project Phase 2

The projects seeks to strengthen the pre-service course and, thus, the ability

of the TTCs to produce ECE graduates with greater capacities by developing

high quality teaching and learning materials (TLM); training the ECE tutors to

deliver the curriculum by usage of the TLM and use of learner-centred meth-

ods; train and orient the student teachers by observing lessons and practice

teaching in inclusive and effective teaching methods.

Despite the ambitious and well intentioned government efforts to deliver educational outcomes at pre-primary level,

challenges remain due to systemic deficiencies and low technical capacity. The quality of the training student teachers

are receiving is severely restricted by several factors.

Although a draft course curriculum is in place, there are no teachers’ guides, toolkits or textbooks to support the deliv-

ery of the curriculum. In addition to course tutors lacking materials to teach the course. Furthermore, the pre-primary

classes in which student teachers can observe lessons and practice teaching are taught by teachers with insufficient

training. As such, the student teachers are not exposed to good teaching practices from which to learn.

Key Achievements 2015 Pilot project

Ability of the TTCs to produce ECE graduates with greater capacities by develop-

ing high quality Teaching and learning materials.

VSO trained 33 Tutors and 500 student teachers to develop learning and teaching

materials.

VSO developed the Handbook for Learning and Teaching Materials making which has been taken as a

model at the national level, more than thousands teachers have been trained in January 2016 at na-

tional level how to make Learning and Teaching Materials using the VSO handbook.

EQUECER Progress

Page 2 EQUECER NEWSLETTER

Capacitating the ECE tutors to deliver the curriculum by usage of the TL materials and use of

learner-centered methods.

33 Tutors from 13 TTCs have been trained to deliver the curriculum by usage of the Teaching and

Learning materials and use of learner-centered methods.

VSO have produced Tutor’s guide for term1, term2 and term 3 used at national level by all ECE tutors

to deliver the curriculum.

Train and orient the student teachers by observing lessons and practice teaching in inclusive and effective teaching

methods.

500 student teachers have been supported by VSO to carry out Teaching Practice in selected schools by VSO for 13 TTCs in 54

schools at national level as 4 schools in the vicinity of each TTC; the support has been facilitation transport for school practice

and teaching methodology in TTC and the in – Service where nursery school teachers were trained to support the student

teachers during school practice and the development of Learning and Teaching Materials.

Engaging Parents to support child ‘s education at home and Special Educational needs support

VSO trained 54 Sector Education Officers, 24 Parents from the School Committee Members

(PTC), 52 Head Teachers and 78 teachers at national level on how to engage with children

at home and support children with disability.

The EQUECER project phase 2 started in April 2016 to end in march 31st 2017. Intervening in 13 TTCs and 13

Districts to improve ECE teaching .

30 tutors have been trained at national level, Most of the tutors acknowledge how their daily teaching activi-

ties have been improved due to their increased knowledge on how to plan lessons and teach student in a learn-

er centered way. The new approach of teaching have improved the tutor’s capacity of teaching what should be

done in practice in pre-primary class and also most of the TTCs are now giving the same package to ECE stu-

dent teachers due to the availability of the new pre-primary curriculum and VSO handbook. Understanding of

importance of use of plays is helping student teachers to differentiate ECE to Primary education.

Tutors are now able to support student teachers to make their own no cost Teaching and Learning Materials

and use them in their teaching practice.

EQUECER Phase2 achievements 2016

Page 3 EQUECER NEWSLETTER

128 in –Service teachers trained; teachers have benefited from the Trainings on the ECE Daily

schedule; they have learnt how to prepare lesson according to the theme of the day and teach in an

organized manner what wasn’t happening before. The new approach of teaching using play have

made their work easy and children can now enjoy school time.

The relationship between teachers and the TTC have been increased and now all the head teachers

understand the importance of the ECE and the support they need to provide to the nursery schools

because they were involved in the trainings.

Teachers have received the training on how to make and use teaching and learning materials and

they are now able to make their own materials from environmental found materials (e.g. materials

made are balls from banana leaves, skipping ropes, Numeracy drawings and writing alphabet on rice

sacs etc...)

Even if most of in service teacher don’t have ECE education background, their practical knowledge

have been increased due to the mentorship received from VSO volunteers, the provided feedback

help them to improve their daily work.

The daily routine schedule is visible in all classes and it’s helping teachers in delivering their lesson

and help the transition from one activity to another.

VSO has distributed ECE reading books at 65 nursery schools in 13 districts and 13 TTCs, a total number of 2600 books at nursery schools, 40

books per school and 520 books at 13 TTCs, 40 books per TTC.

The project have 13 international ECE advisors working in 13 TTCs and 13 National Volunteers working in 13 districts. Partnership have been en-

hanced as result of good collaboration this has helped us achieve our goals as planned. The project will conduct SGAC training on parents en-

gagement in ECE by next year 2017 and facilitate schools to establish clear communication with parents; continuous support will be given to

tutors ,student teachers and in—service teachers in terms of coaching, mentoring and training to improve the curriculum implementation, the

use of TLM and how to assess children in ECE class during different activities..

As the phase 2 reaching at its end, we will conduct a project end line evaluation to currently inform the level of implementation and learning for

further consideration.

Dear Partners,

We would like to appreciate your commitment and collaboration; we wish you all the best for the new year 2017 and Merry Christmas

MINEDUC MINALOC Rwanda Education Board (REB) University of Rwanda College of Education (UR-CE)

Nyamagabe District – TTC Mbuga Nyaruguru District - TTC Cyahinda Rusizi District - TTC Mururu Karongi District - TTC Rubengera Muhanga District - TTC Muhanga Ngororero District - TTC Muramba Rubavu District - TTC Gacuba 2 Gicumbi District - TTC Byumba Nyagatare District - TTC Matimba Ngoma District - TTC Zaza Nyamasheke District - TTC Mwezi Bugesera District - TTC Nyamata Gatsibo District - TTC Kabarore

From the EQUECER Team:

Damien Gregory W. Education Technical Advisor Claude Gilbert KAMBA Project Coordinator

Justus Maina International ECE Advisor Emmanuel TURATSINDE National ECE Advisor

Jan Tomas International ECE Advisor Eusebe HABYARIMANA National ECE Advisor

Ann Tadeo F. International ECE Advisor Seraphin IRANFASHA National ECE Advisor

Isaac Natif International ECE Advisor Elias MUSABYIMANA National ECE Advisor

Miriam Maina International ECE Advisor Boniface NSENGIYUMVA National ECE Advisor

Martin Kileve International ECE Advisor Janviere KARABOKANDERA National ECE Advisor

Monica Atoo International ECE Advisor Flugence MURAMUTSA National ECE Advisor

Antonina Musuya International ECE Advisor Marie Claire AMANI National ECE Advisor

Ann Wambui International ECE Advisor Jane Rose MUKAMANZI National ECE Advisor

Mary Wambugu International ECE Advisor Bosco NIRERE National ECE Advisor

Jean Kaggwa International ECE Advisor Jeanine MUTESI National ECE Advisor

Alice Sumiyu International ECE Advisor Stephanie TUYISENGE National ECE Advisor

Edith Chiluyi International ECE Advisor Janviere UWAMAHORO National ECE Advisor

Emilienne KAYITANSIRWA Project Officer Pierre Claver HABIMANA M&E Officer

Adeline UWONKUNDA M&E Officer

Papa N. Diouf - Country Director VSO Rwanda

Michael Opio A. - Head of Programmes VSO Rwanda

Philbert HAKIZIMANA - Programmes Manager Specialist