On November 21st and 22nd, the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) in Rwanda and VVOB organised the ‘Symposium on School Leadership and Learning Networks’ in Kigali. This two-day event brought together leaders of the education sector and academicians from across the country and abroad, to discuss new developments and approaches to School Management and School Leadership.
The School Management and School Leadership Programme
For the past 10 years, VVOB has supported MINEDUC to enhance the levels of School Management in primary and secondary schools nationwide. As a matter of long-term sustainability, this culminated last year in the institutionalisation of the School Management and Leadership Unit under the Teacher Development and Management Department of the Rwanda Education Board (REB), and the establishment of a School Management and Training Unit within the Workforce Development Authority (WDA) in support of Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
Also 30 ‘Schools of Reference’ (one per district) are now operational, and support Peer-to-Peer Learning among schools of the same district.
A certification framework for head teachers has been put in place, and the College of Education of the University of Rwanda will soon launch an accreditation programme for head teachers that is in line with validated professional standards.
The importance of School Leadership
Recent academic evidence has shown that the quality of School Leadership is the most important school-related factor influencing pupils’ achievement, second only to the quality of teaching.
Therefore WDA, REB and VVOB organised a national symposium to bring together a wide variety of educational experts and practitioners to begin to define the best techniques adapted to the Rwandan context to develop core competencies of effective school leaders. Two concepts at the heart of the symposium - Leadership and Peer-to-Peer Learning - are already deeply rooted in the Rwandan culture.
The aim of the symposium
- Exploring the new academic School Leadership research and approaches
- Mapping the way forward to achieve better learning outcomes by effective School Leadership through Peer-to-Peer Training
Targeted participants
- Dignitaries from MINEDUC, REB and WDA
- High level Officials from other relevant Ministries, districts and sectors
- High Learning Institutions: University of Rwanda, College of Education, Teacher Training Colleges
- International organisations active in the education sector and members of the Rwanda Education NGO Coordination Platform, active in the field of School Leadership
- Head teachers of 30 District Schools of Reference
