The Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College in its mission to develop students’ intellectual ability of understanding national, regional and global security challenges, organizes a study tour annually for students to research on various themes. The tour for Senior Command and Staff Course 06 took place with the theme of ‘Rwanda’s Education sector policies and initiatives and how they contribute towards sustainable peace, security and economic development.

The tour aimed at providing first-hand information on the status of Rwandan Education Sector, the existing policies and programmes that are there to improve the already existing impressive achievements Rwanda has gone through.

The main objective of the tour was to assess Rwandan policies and strategies that guide the country’ s education sector, while establishing the link between good education with sustainable peace, security and economic development. Challenges, other than those mentioned by the policy implementing institutions were also to be identified by students during the course of the tour with the aim of making recommendations towards improved performance of the Rwandan education sector.

On Monday 5th February 2018, the national study tour commenced with a brief at the Ministry of Education in Kigali, where officials from the ministry, Director General Mrs. Rose BAGUMA and Director General for Work Force Development Authority, Mr. Jerome GASANA briefed students on Rwanda’s Education Sector policies and Programmes which included the priorities, monitoring and evaluation frameworks. They also highlighted some challenges associated with the implementation process.

The college’s students then divided into four teams and dispersed to start their field research to the 4 provinces and selected districts, namely: Musanze and Gicumbi in the Northern Province, Rwamagana and Kayonza in Eastern Province, Nyanza and Huye in Southern Province, Karongi and Rubavu in Western Province.

At province level, teams met with the Governors and were briefed on the Status of Education Sector and contribution of Provinces to education strategic priorities.

A group photo with the Governor Northern Province

A group photo with the Governor Western Province

A group photo with the Governor Southern Province

A group photo with the Governor Eastern Province

During the tour at districts level, the teams were given an overview of the state of education through a presentation introducing the districts, its priorities, policy implementation and challenges of the policies.

Also they visited the Higher Learning Institutions where they were given an intensive tour of the facilities.

The last day of the tour provided students with the opportunity to interact with different stakeholders at grass root level. During interactions with students, parents, leaders, antidrug club representatives, education sector officials and citizens, students were able to confirm or deny some of the previously identified challenges.

Students and faculty staff appreciated the effort, commitment and cooperation offered by various leaders, education sector officials and the people.

The Study Tour in the whole country ended successfully on Saturday 10th February 2018.