Presented at RENCP, October 21,2014

By Joyce Musabe

Curriculum review updates

Background and Major revisions

Curriculum in 1962-1978

The structure of education system was 6-3-3 The language of instruction in lower primary

was KinyarwandaThe subjects mainly taught in primary were:

Mathematics, Kinyarwanda, Religion, and French.

There was little exposure in history and geography.

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Background and Major revisions

Curriculum 1978-1992

New education structure of 8-6 Language of instruction in primary was

KinyarwandaSubjects taught at primary were Maths,

French, Kinyarwanda, Religion, Crafts, needlework, and home economics in some schools

Specialization started right from form one3

Background and Major revisions

Curriculum 1992- 2009

The structure of education system was 6-3-3 National conference of April 24th 1995

recommended the restructuring of education system

Harmonization of the curricula in 1996 Official languages of instructions:

Kinyarwanda (lower primary, from upper primary either French or English)

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Background and Major revisionsCurriculum 2009-up to date

Introduction of double shift in upper primary.

Reduction of the number of core subjects. Introduction of compulsory and elective

subjects.Official languages of instructions:

Kinyarwanda in lower primary and English at all other levels.

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Rationale and objective Vision 2020, EDPRS2 ,ESSP (2013-2018) - the

Rwanda Curriculum requires a renovation to meet the demands of the country’s vision and the dynamic global skills market demands.

To allow the free movement of workers in the region and in the world.

These involve turning Rwanda into a knowledge-based society whilst the aspiration is that the reformed curriculum should reflect the best of curricula in the developing world and embody best practices.

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Activities achieved with the reviewConducted studies on existing curriculum and

subject syllabuses (July 2013 – November 2013)

Held a National Curriculum Conference involving all stakeholders aimed at debating, refining and disseminating the recommendations of the studies (November 2013).

The structure of the curriculum framework and the development of time tabled road map plotting the work to be undertaken and key deadlines (December2013-February 2014)

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Activities achieved with the review

Identification of subjects to be taught at all levels including the combinations.

Identification of competencies and Leavers profiles and crosscutting issues

Subjects’ overviews ( topics, subtopics and topic competencies in every subject and at each level of the learner.

Elaboration of competence based syllabus (determine on grade by grade basis, what children must learn, how they should learn, related learning activities)8

Competencies Basic :Numeracy, literacy-

Communication in mother tongue and in official foreign languages- Science and technology- ICT and digital competency- Personal and interpersonal management and life skills- Citizenship and national identity- Entrepreneurship and business development and Lifelong learning

Generic:

Critical thinking Research and

problem solving Creativity and

innovationCommunicationCo-operation

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What is new with Pre primary

Foundations of literacy, numeracy and social skills through play based learning

Helping students to discover their world ( people and community and living things, physical features and technology

Social and emotional development Physical development and healthy care

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What is new in Primary

Increased the number of subjects : 7 and 8 instead of 5 respectively in upper and lower primary

Created space for all subjects to be compulsory

Introduction of French and ICT

Number of weeks per year: 39 instead of 3611

What is new in Lower secondary

Core subjects: 12 ( examinable in national exams)

Elective subjects: 1 subject chosen /examinable

Co- curricula activities: All compulsory but not examinable

Number of periods per week: 45 instead of 38

Number of weeks per year: 39 instead of 3612

What is new In Lower secondary

Some changes in subjects:

History and CitizenshipBiology and Health sciencesGeography and EnvironmentFrench and Literature in EnglishICT in education

All above compulsory and be examinable13

A level combinations

8 Combinations in Sciences

6 Combinations in Humanities

3 Combinations in Languages

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What is new at Upper secondary

Focus on communication skills, languages in all combinations

Focus on Subsidiary Mathematics in sciences and humanities with economics

Elective subjects are examinable in national exams

Number of periods per week: 45 instead of 36

Number of weeks per year: 39 instead of 36

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Methodology used and participantsBeside consultation, interviews there was a full

participatory approach involving relevant stakeholders from:

Teachers and lecturersFBO Government and Private Institutions ( WDA,

CNLG, Itorero, GMO, Unit and Reconciliation, RBS, REMA, AEGIS/Trust, MINECOFIN /Financial Education, Wellspring Foundation…)

PSFEDC/L3 and EDC/Akazi kanoze Right to play

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Upcoming activities

Development of Assessment guidelines of each level November-December 2014

Launching the new curriculum in end December 2014.

Elaboration of Learning and Teaching Materials in line with the new curriculum ( 2015)

Training teachers in the use of the new curriculum ( 2015)

Implementation of competency-based curriculum (Jan 2016 to 2018)

Monitoring and evaluation ( 2018)17

Challenges

The weekly time allocation of 45 periods per week pushes the school day to 4 pm as opposed to 2 pm as it was in the existing curriculum.

This implies that issues of school feeding need to be considered urgently

Funding the remaining activities for proper implementation of the new curriculum from Jan 2016-2018)

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Good news!!!

“We can do all things through Christ who strengthen us”

(Apostle

Paul)19

THANK YOU

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