Head Teachers and Directors of Studies from the 116 selected 9-year Basic Education host schools, for the Teaching Assistantships Project (TAP II) were convened in two workshops respectively, organized by Inspire, Educate and Empower Rwanda (IEE) on November 27th and December 4th ,2021. The two events were held at Ituze Garden Motel and Hill Top Hotel, in Kigali respectively. The aim of these orientation workshops was to introduce the Head Teachers and Directors of Studies to IEE, the Teaching Assistantships Project II (TAP II) in the context of Ministry of Education priorities for teacher development, and to seek their collaboration in the implementation of TAP II project activities.
The 116 Head Teachers and 116 Directors of Studies were later introduced to Teaching Assistants’ (TAs) and Teaching Assistantships Mentors’ (TAMs) responsibilities and their working relationships with the host schools. 310 Teaching Assistants (TAs) have already been prepared and deployed in the 116 schools countrywide and are already working under the guidance of 30 Teaching Assistantship Mentors (TAMs), to support in teaching and learning.
In the context of its Impact and its Young Africa Works strategies, operationalized by the Leaders in Teaching Initiative (LIT) in Rwanda, Mastercard Foundation in collaboration with IEE on the Teaching Assistantships Project II under LIT’s Recruit pillar are contributing to Rwanda Government’s National Strategy for Transformation (NST1) which are operationalized by the Education Sector Strategic Plan managed by the Ministry of Education and implemented by the Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB).
During 2021/2022- 2025/2026 through the Teaching Assistantships Project II, IEE will reach 3,000 young people as Teaching Assistants (70% Females, 30% Males) involving them in comprehensive skill building for career interest and determination, inspiring them towards taking up careers on education, equipping them with skills, values and attitudes necessary for a young generation of teachers and leaders contributing to quality teaching and learning, and social and economic transformation in Rwanda.The collaboration being built by IEE is meant to make school administrators, host the teaching assistantships, offer technical support to Teaching Assistants, mentorship and coaching to Teaching Assistants and collaboration with Teaching Assistantship Mentors.
According to one of the participants, Anastase Rukundo, representing Groupe Scolaire Muhoza II in Musanze district, the Teaching Assistants come at the right time and school heads need to welcome them with open hands, conduct induction sessions to make them more familiar with the school environment, so that they teach with confidence and trust. Rukundo further said that he is optimistic that once there is enough teaching material and Continuous Professional Development, quality teaching and learning will bring about better student performance.
The responsibilities of the Teaching Assistants (TAs) include preparing and delivering lessons, gathering relevant materials to support teaching and learning, assisting teachers to prepare for lessons by getting materials ready or setting up equipment for practical lessons, collaborating with teachers to plan learning activities, assessing learning and complete records, supervising and supporting group learning activities , providing in class and remedial support for slow learners and taking part in all CPD sessions and trainings conducted by the TAMs.
Furaha Immaculee represented Groupe Scolaire Kintenko, located in Gisagara district. “The coming of the Teaching Assistants is an additional support to teaching and learning, which requires every school Administration to mobilize its Staff on how to integrate these young and knowledgeable youth”, said Furaha Immaculee.
Among other activities, the TAP II plans to train a minimum of 116 Head teachers, and 116 Directors of Studies on the importance of mentorship and coaching for Teaching Assistants and equipping them with improved confidence to coordinate school communities and supporting teaching assistantships; training a minimum of 116 host teachers on the importance of modelling, mentorship and coaching for teaching Assistants, to interest them to join the teaching profession and have improved confidence to support teaching assistantship, conduct school-based training and mentorship for Teaching Assistants, doing project activity monitoring and evaluation. Didier Nahimana is a Director of Studies at Groupe Scoliare Camp Kigali, one of the15 schools where the Teaching Assistantships project was piloted. He said that motivation and guidance from host schools are key in making the Teaching Assistants succeed in their work, while the Teaching Assistants need to bring positive change in terms of better academic performance by bringing new ideas through their education. Nahimana also believes that introducing the Teaching Assistants to the whole school environment helps them to support school activities like youth clubs and other extra-curricular activities.
While addressing the Head teachers, the Country Director of IEE, Emmanuel Murenzi said that the Teaching Assistants come to support teaching sessions, targeting the 9- and 12-year basic education schools, where some of the students are still struggling with learning. Murenzi added that the selected host schools for TAP II will be provided with learning materials like laboratory chemicals, to enable students practically demonstrate their scientific skills. He further said that this 5-year project intends to make more boys and girls develop passion for the teaching profession and training 2,900 School Based Mentors (SBM) country-wide.
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