This project, named the ’Smart Education Project’, is a collaboration with the Government of China, featuring technology installations that enable these institutions to access fast and affordable internet.
The initiative will be implemented through two data centers located at the University of Rwanda, specifically in the Gikondo and Huye branches.
These data centers serve a dual purpose: providing fast and affordable internet to the schools and housing various educational materials for easy access by those who need them.
The project, which began in 2018 and implemented towards the end of 2023, has already reached 500 schools and universities. It is expected to expand to 1,500 institutions across the country. To date, $30 million, equivalent to approximately 38 billion Rwandan Francs, has been invested in the project.
The State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Irere Claudette, stated that this project will help schools and universities in accessing fast and affordable internet, simplifying the teaching process.
"We have been focusing on spreading internet access in schools for some time. Often, the issue was the limited availability, preventing students and teachers from accessing it, usually confined to the management level only. Thus, our recent efforts have been towards increasing internet capacity and affordability," she said.
To achieve this, the Rwandan Government sought the necessary resources to expand the internet infrastructure. "We started with a few schools to test the functionality. Today, they are using it to assess its speed and efficiency, and we are observing positive results," she continued.
She added that this development would allow lessons to be delivered more efficiently, urging school leaders to maintain and expand internet access within their institutions.
Dr. Raymond Ndikumana, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Strategic Planning and Administration at the University of Rwanda (UR), commended the Ministry of Education for their trust and support, noting that it would enhance teaching methods.
Schools and universities that have begun using this internet service reported it as a timely and cost-effective upgrade from their previous connections.
Jean Marie Vianney Samarwa, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance at ICK, noted that internet costs had been a significant expense for the university, but this has now been reduced.
"We are among the universities that received this internet service three months ago. It offers many benefits, including significant savings on one of the major expenses for private universities, which is internet procurement. Previously, the high costs meant purchasing limited and often inefficient services," Samarwa remarked.
"The affordable and efficient internet service we now have is highly beneficial. Especially during Covid-19, when we were required to conduct online teaching, we faced significant challenges due to poor internet service. This will greatly aid in remote teaching and allow foreign teachers to conduct classes from their home countries. We thank MINEDUC and the Rwandan Government," added.
This sentiment was echoed by Ingabire Dominique,the Principal of IPRC Karongi, who mentioned that the project has reduced their internet costs and made it easier and faster for students to access the internet.
Initially targeting over 500 schools, the project aims to reach all educational institutions across the country.
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