Teachers during the training

Teachers from 90 schools have received additional training on research-based pedagogical practices after obtaining print and audio instructional materials and training in March.

The Rwanda Education Board (REB) and the USAID-funded Literacy, Language, and Learning (L3) Initiative organized five two-day trainings for approximately 600 P1 and P2 teachers from April 29 to May 5 in Gasabo, Huye, Karongi, Bugesera, and Rulindo districts.

Since April, these teachers have been using story collections, student readers, teachers� guides, and interactive audio instruction programs developed by REB and L3 to support learner-centered English, Kinyarwanda, and math instruction.

Audio programs have been supporting teachers particularly in English by providing both teachers and students with access to fluent speakers of the language. Kinyarwanda materials support teachers in delivering lessons that develop key literacy skills, such as the awareness of the individual sounds in words and the ability to match sounds to letters. Math materials ensure that students not only are learning facts and procedures, they are becoming logical thinkers and problem-solvers.

�This training allowed teachers to practice using the instructional materials and to get our support,� said Mary Sugrue, L3 Interim Technical Director. �It was also an opportunity to engage with teachers and listen to their experiences and feedback, which helps us plan our materials.�

Training facilitators modeled lessons, and teachers taught their own lessons and gave their colleagues feedback. In one lesson, math teachers held up their fingers, asking �students� to quickly call out the number of fingers, aiming to increase the speed at which students can recall basic math concepts.

The Kinyarwanda and English lessons particularly focused on reading skills. In Kinyarwanda, teachers practiced methods for supporting children in understanding a story. �First I show the pictures because the children are interested,� said Solange Uwineza, a Kinyarwanda teacher from Bweramura School. �I ask them what they think the story is about. This helps the children to think and reflect.�

Four additional training and feedback sessions are planned this academic year. The instructional materials are currently in an experimental stage and will be finalized following teacher feedback and student testing results. Next year, Kinyarwanda, English, and math materials for P1 to P4 will be distributed across the country.

Funded by USAID, the L3 Initiative is implemented by Education Development Center (EDC) in partnership with REB and with assistance from Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO), Concern Worldwide, International Education Exchange, and the Peace Corps.

Source: The Rwanda Focus