Inside Rwanda's smart education project

Rwanda's Ministry of Education is on a mission to transform the country into a knowledge-based economy by leveraging modern technology, particularly in the education sector. The Smart Education Project is a groundbreaking initiative that aims to provide reliable and affordable connectivity to schools across the nation. CNBC Africa's Derrick Muhangi sat down with Irere Claudette, Minister of State for Education at the Rwanda's Ministry of Education, to delve deeper into this ambitious project. The project, which was conceived in 2017-2018, officially commenced implementation in October-November last year with the goal of connecting 1,500 schools with faster and more efficient internet access. The Rwandan government secured a concessional loan of US$30 million from the Ex-Im Bank of China to fund this initiative. As of now, over 600 schools have been successfully connected, and the plan is to have all schools and higher learning institutions linked by the end of July this year. The Smart Education Project is poised to revolutionize the education landscape in Rwanda, offering a plethora of benefits to students and educators alike. The implementation of this project ensures that all schools have easy access to data through a centralized education data center. Additionally, schools that previously had inadequate connectivity are now guaranteed a minimum bandwidth of 20-25 MBPS, significantly enhancing their online experience. The project targets essential facilities such as SMART classrooms, teachers' rooms, and administration blocks, ensuring that every corner of the school is interconnected. Universities and higher learning institutions are set to receive a minimum bandwidth of 100 MBPS, enabling seamless collaboration and research opportunities. Minister Claudette emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts to maximize the impact of the project. While the government covers the connectivity costs for public and government-aided schools, private schools are encouraged to redirect their budgets towards enhancing connectivity for the benefit of their students. Moreover, the ministry is committed to keeping costs affordable for all schools, even after increasing the connectivity capacity. By bridging the digital divide in the education sector, Rwanda is taking a significant step towards building a brighter future for its youth and fostering innovation and growth in the country.