IMPACT STORY
The BIG WIN for employability – Digital literacy in the education sector in Rwanda – Moving towards sustainability
Face to face trainer session in January 2023 for 200 teachers.
OBJECTIVES
The project consists of a full programme to improve youth employability by integrating digital skills into classrooms. Acknowledging the crucial function of secondary schools in shaping Africa’s future workforce, the programme concentrates on enhancing the capacity of both secondary school educators and students. The principal aim is to empower 500,000 youths to access economic opportunities over five years by equipping them with digital competencies and 21st-century online learning skills.
In the primary phase, the initiative involves delivering digital literacy and 21st-century pedagogy courses to 12,000 teachers and digital literacy training to 80,000 students, alongside institutional capacity development. Collaboration with educational boards, ministries, and strategic partnerships ensures widespread access to technology and internet connectivity in schools. DSF remains committed to continuous technical support, troubleshooting, training sessions, and monitoring to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of the program over time.
Key Metrics
%
Increase in student assessment results
%
Improvement in teacher digital competency
Teachers certified
Students enrolled
Schools nationwide involved
Testimonials
” The Rwanda Education Board is working with DSF to ensure the development of digital literacy programs and teacher skills, as the implementing arm of the Ministry of Education. While transitions require time, we have accomplished significant progress this year. Our efforts included providing REB email accounts to students enrolled in the program, integrating teacher training with competency development, and developing a sustainable plan to fully incorporate this service into our offerings to students in the coming years. “
Dr. Nelson MBARUSHIMANA,
Director General of Rwanda – Education Board
” As a DSF Master Trainer, I, along with Education Leaders, Teachers, and Students, have acquired crucial knowledge and skills through DSF training. This empowers us to adeptly utilize and oversee ICT tools in both online and face-to-face (Blended mode) learning environments, enabling effective problem-solving. DSF has instilled the ability to bring creativity to the classroom, navigate change, implement project-based learning, and address stress, grief, and trauma in students through counseling. Grateful for DSF’s comprehensive courses, we aim to extend this invaluable training to all educators and students in our country. “
Etienne TWUMVIRIMANA
Teaches ICT for Level 3 and CHEMISTRY from Level 4 to Level 6 G.S ST Michel Mubuga in Karongi district, Rwanda
COURSES
Digital Competency Passport for Educators
Digital Competency Passport for Employment
Teacher Well-Being
21st Century Teaching : Essentials
21st Century School Management
OUTCOMES
This groundbreaking initiative—unprecedented in scale—has successfully transformed digital education across Rwanda.
Despite initial challenges, strategic solutions such as zero-rated mobile data, integration into teacher certification pathways, and key partnerships, including with Microsoft, led to outstanding outcomes.
Student engagement improved through the integration of digital literacy into school curricula and the introduction of holiday training programs, while enhanced communication and stronger involvement from school leadership further supported implementation. The results speak for themselves: student assessment performance increased by 133%, teacher digital competency improved by 102%, over 9,000 teachers were certified, and 67,168 students enrolled.
The program reached 626 schools nationwide. As it enters a transitional phase, the focus is now on developing a government-owned model that will embed digital literacy into the national curriculum, ensuring sustainable, long-term access to digital skills for all students.
