Kigali, 3rd November 2019- It has been our pleasure to Inspire, Educate and Empower you- Said Mr. Emmanuel Murenzi, Country Director of Inspire, Educate and Empower Rwanda (IEE), at a commissioning event for Teaching Assistants.
During 2019, IEE has implemented the Teaching Assistantships Project, which is funded by Mastercard Foundation under its Leaders in Teaching (LIT) initiative in Rwanda. This project has been engaging a total of one hundred and fifty bright girls in their transitional year to tertiary education, as Teaching Assistants, supporting the learning of mathematics and science for six months, at seventy-three schools in fifteen districts in Rwanda. The project is part of Mastercard Foundation’s commitment to supporting livelihoods and opportunities for young people in Africa, particularly women, to secure dignified and fulfilling work by 2030. Particularly, under the “Recruit” pillar of the LIT initiative, Mastercard Foundation is supporting skill-nurturing, to attract passionate, young women with an interest in education to join the teaching profession.
During their teaching assistantships, Teaching Assistants are taken through a series of trainings around English language for teaching, planning for teaching and teaching methodology, study strategies and personal development, gender awareness and gender responsive pedagogy, and inclusive education. Supported by Teaching Assistantship Mentors, Teaching Assistants support learning and teaching of mathematics and science subjects at schools of deployment in their local communities.
The month of October marked the sixth and last month of teaching assistantships. To mark this occasion, IEE invited Mastercard Foundation, Rwanda Education Board, Partners in the LIT initiative including; University of Rwanda, Carnegie Mellon University, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS Rwanda), Laterite, UNICEF, VVOB, FAWE, Head Teachers, Directors of Studies and Teachers from some of the schools in which the Teaching Assistantships Project has been piloted. Accompanied by their Teaching Assistantship Mentors, Teaching Assistants were all arrayed to testify their achievements from engagement in the project.
From presentation of results in the pilot phase of the project, the commissioning event was a “Go Ye Therefore” moment like the great Biblical commission to “go and teach nations”.
As you go on to higher education, by the unwavering conviction I have in the power of education to change lives, I would like to commission you: In all your endeavours, avail yourselves each day to learn something from your environments and experiences. Most importantly, commit to learn continuously, so that you share with confidence, what you have learnt– said Emmanuel in his closing remarks.
Mastercard Foundation was represented by Mr. James McIntyre the Program Manager at Mastercard Foundation Kigali hub.
The Teaching Assistantships Project is an important component of Leaders in Teaching Initiative that shows critical roles teachers play to unlock quality secondary education opportunities for young people and we are so excited that many of you chose education as your future career- Said James as he addressed the audience.
James went on to inform that Mastercard Foundation has received positive feedback from stakeholders about the Teaching Assistantships Project. He appreciated IEE’s collaboration and informed that Mastercard Foundation would continue engaging to support education in Rwanda.
Presiding over the Teaching Assistants commissioning event, Ms. Angelique Tusiime, the Deputy Director General of Rwanda Education Board who was also the Guest of Honour commended the work done by Mastercard Foundation and IEE through the Teaching Assistantships Project in complementing efforts of the Government of Rwanda to attract smart and passionate young people into the teaching profession for the benefit of Rwandan children. I would like to commend the work done by IEE and its partners in complementing the efforts of the Government of Rwanda to attract smart and passionate young people into the teaching profession– said Angelique.
In recognition of their participation in the project, IEE awarded certificates of participation to Teaching Assistants, among whom thirty-six will pursue Education courses at tertiary level in difference colleges of Education all over the country.