Reimagining Teacher Training in Rwanda

Rwanda’s Primary Teacher Residency Program is a transformative initiative aimed at revolutionizing teacher training and education in Rwanda.

 In partnership with Rwanda’s Ministry of Education, Isomo, along with Florida State University and Inspire, Educate, and Empower (IEE) Rwanda, is taking a bold step forward to empower the next generation of primary school teachers with essential 21st-century skills.

Our Objectives

Language Proficiency

Achieving significant and measured improvement in English-language proficiencies, from reading and writing to speaking

Digital Literacy

Building familiarity with technology, from typing and internet literacy to proficiency in foundational digital learning tools

Joy in Learning

Creating a dynamic space of learning, commitment to excellence in teaching and learning, and excitement towards the profession

Building for Scale

The year-long pilot program, launched by the Ministry of Education, seeks to develop a scalable model that will be accessible to all 3,000 graduates of Rwanda's 16 Polytechnic Teacher Training Colleges. Residents participate in virtual and in-person skills training, as well as a hands-on practicum in local primary schools across the country.

Residents Selected
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Targeted Scale
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On average, residents increase their reading proficiency by three grade levels during the first three months of the program.

The program is more than just an initiative; it represents a profound commitment to educational excellence. It seeks to revolutionize primary teacher training by going beyond the traditional Teacher Training College curriculum, offering mentor-guided learning, fostering creativity, embracing technology, and improving language proficiency.

Hon. Gaspard Twagirayezu

Rwanda's Minister of Education

Learning Intervention

Isomo’s learning intervention includes a careful curation of assignments including:  

Include comprehensive reading packages of selected texts with a special focus on annotation, vocabulary, inferencing, and critical thinking as skills paramount to basic literacy.

Builds on basic professional writing etiquette for practical communication, with a practical approach to grammar and the basic communication of ideas in written form.

Includes seminar discussions in small groups, recorded and assessed regularly. CommArts is a space to practice their language comprehension. 

Includes daily writing reflections, audiovisual assignments, and hands-on community engagement projects. 

Residents research, design, and present solutions to small challenges within their host Teacher Training College. Projects are a practice where they research, discuss, and present solutions regularly.  

Residents strengthen their digital literacy through the use of a variety of online learning and management platforms, as well as daily typing practices. 

Complete immersion in IXL’s robust online learning platform to practice and assess English-language proficiencies and growth. Learn more about IXL here.

Meet Rwanda's Future Generation of Teachers