FoM 2025: Rwanda Youth Education

Since 2019, St. Paul’s has been sponsoring students in the Cyangugu Diocese who otherwise would have been unable to continue their education. Despite improvements to education and literacy as part of the country's rebuilding after the 1994 genocide, the education system still faces challenges including low school enrolment rates and limited resources. The average primary school teacher has to handle around 62 students, and schools in more remote areas (like Cyangugu) also find it tough to attract teachers. There remains a large gap between expected and actual educational levels. Whereas the expected years of education in state-sponsored schools is 10.6 years, the actual mean is about 3.3 years. Since education is considered mandatory for six years of primary school and three years of lower secondary school, students are not (officially) required to pay school fees. However, a variety of extra fees for items like uniforms, supplies or transportation often mean that not all children will have an opportunity to attend classes, especially if they are from large families that depend on subsistence agriculture.

Youth with little education and limited literacy also have poor employment prospects. They are likely to feel trapped in an endless cycle of poverty, without hope. In Cyangugu, a special committee has been appointed to identify youth facing particularly challenging circumstances, and to provide them with an opportunity to continue their education with help from our sponsorship program.

We highlight Solange as an example of one student for whom the path to a good education has not been easy. We first met her and her family on a visit to Rwanda in 2018. She was the eldest of eight children who lived with their mother because they had been abandoned by their father. It was obvious that the family struggled to find enough food. Solange had dropped out of school in Primary 6 because their house was falling apart, and she had to move in with a relative who lived far away. Her mother could not afford school fees, uniforms and supplies.

When our sponsorship program started in 2019, Solange was selected as one of the first seven students. She attended St. Mathews School where she completed Primary 6 and then continued with Senior 1, 2 and 3. In 2024, as she attempted to move on for more senior education, she encountered another challenge when she became ill and was unable to complete the first term of S4. After healing she was supported to return to a technical and vocational education and training (TVET) program at Fred Nkunda school for the 2025-2026 academic year, where she is in Level 3 of the Food and Beverage program. We trust that this educational path will help her find employment.

A few of our sponsored students have gone on to complete Senior 6 and at least two have progressed to post-secondary education. All have expressed gratitude for the opportunities we provided them by facilitating their return to school.