More than 4.7 million Rwandans currently enrolled in education

The Ministry of Education has reported that about 4,766,125 people representing 35% of Rwanda’s population of 13,550,000 are currently enrolled in education at various levels, from pre-primary schooling to adult literacy programs. The figures were presented on Friday, December 12, 2025, by the State Minister for Education, Claudette Irere, during celebrations marking World Teachers’ Day. This year’s theme was “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession.” According to the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), Rwanda has a total of 5,041 schools in basic education. These include 4,264 pre-pri

The Ministry of Education has reported that about 4,766,125 people representing 35% of Rwanda’s population of 13,550,000 are currently enrolled in education at various levels, from pre-primary schooling to adult literacy programs. The figures were presented on Friday, December 12, 2025, by the State Minister for Education, Claudette Irere, during celebrations marking World Teachers’ Day. This year’s theme was “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession.” According to the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), Rwanda has a total of 5,041 schools in basic education. These include 4,264 pre-primary schools, 4,108 primary schools, and 1,916 lower secondary (ordinary level) schools. The country also has 981 upper secondary schools, 581 technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, and 120 professional education institutions. Of all these institutions, 72% are public or government-aided. This includes 2,084 government-aided schools, 1,576 public schools, and 1,381 private schools. Enrollment figures show that 605,229 learners are in pre-primary education, 3,000,709 in primary schools, 598,806 in lower secondary education, and 196,384 in upper secondary education. In addition, 116,791 students are enrolled in TVET institutions, 12,423 attend short-term vocational training programs, and 15,543 study in polytechnics. Higher education institutions and universities enroll 114,931 students, while 99,255 adults are participating in literacy programs. At the primary level, Grade One records the highest enrollment, with 746,241 pupils. Similarly, the first year of secondary education has the largest number of learners, totaling 218,074. Rwanda’s education sector employs 133,029 personnel, including 117,839 teachers and 15,190 school administrators. Gasabo District has the highest number of teachers at 6,338, while Nyarugenge District has the lowest, with 2,795 teachers. In terms of qualifications, 69% of teachers hold an upper secondary certificate (A2), 21% have a bachelor’s degree (A0), and 10% hold a diploma (A1). Among A2-qualified teachers, 43,398 are women and 27,613 are men. At the A1 level, there are 3,644 female teachers and 7,023 male teachers. Teachers with bachelor’s degrees include 7,728 women and 13,419 men. School leadership remains male-dominated, with men heading 74% of schools (2,345 school heads), while women lead 734 schools, representing 26%. In the 2024/25 academic year national examinations, Kirehe District recorded the highest pass rate in primary leaving examinations at 97%, while Nyaruguru District ranked last with 65%. At the lower secondary level, Kirehe again led with a 93% pass rate, while Musanze District recorded the lowest at 49%. For upper secondary examinations, Kayonza District achieved the highest pass rate at 97%, while Kamonyi District recorded 85%. Looking ahead, the Government of Rwanda’s five-year education sector plan (2024–2029) prioritizes improving the quality of education at all levels, strengthening TVET, and aligning higher education with labor market needs. The plan also focuses on expanding adult education programs, increasing school enrollment and retention, and reducing dropout rates. To support inclusive and quality education, the government aims to raise pre-primary enrollment from 35% to 65% through expanded school infrastructure, recruitment of qualified teachers, and provision of essential teaching and learning materials.