Rwanda: Inclusive Education Efforts Begin to Show Results for Students with Disabilities

The Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) has announced that it will continue to strengthen its inclusive education efforts to provide equal opportunities for all students to showcase their abilities, noting that these efforts have already begun to bear fruit.

This commitment was emphasized by the Minister of Education, Gaspard Twagirayezu, when MINEDUC released the results of the national exams for primary school and lower secondary school students on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.

Among the top performers in the lower secondary school exams was Jean Dieu Niyonzima, who ranked fifth nationally despite being visually impaired. Niyonzima is a student at the Education Institute for Blind Children in Kibeho, Nyaruguru District.

MINEDUC highlighted the importance of inclusive education in supporting students with disabilities, providing them with necessary accommodations during exams, such as access to materials they can read and additional time for completion.

Minister Twagirayezu praised the achievements of students with disabilities, stating, “Their disabilities do not hinder their learning, but we must continue to provide the necessary support to help them succeed in their education and exams.”

In an interview with Kigali Today after being recognized for his outstanding performance in the national exams, Niyonzima shared that he is 60% visually impaired, which has posed various challenges in his studies, including limited access to the internet and insufficient books.

He said, “What made it possible was the determination to overcome these challenges. I understood that if you put effort into something, nothing is impossible. I studied hard, reviewed the lessons provided by our teachers, and that helped me succeed in the exams, including the national exam.”

MINEDUC reported that, overall, students performed well in the lower secondary exams, except in subjects like Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Biology. However, Niyonzima excelled in these subjects, largely due to the additional time granted to students with disabilities during exams.

He explained, “Students with disabilities are given an extra hour because they face challenges that slow down their writing process. For me, this extra time was very helpful as I often completed my exams during the last hour.”

In the 2022/2023 academic year, MINEDUC announced special provisions for students with disabilities in the national exams, such as extended time, assistance for those who cannot write, and other accommodations.

The Director-General of the National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA), Dr. Bernard Bahati, noted at the time that students with disabilities receive various forms of support depending on their specific needs. This includes providing exams in large print for those with visual impairments and assigning scribes for those who cannot write themselves.

He added, “We do our best to provide the necessary support because we understand the diverse needs of students with disabilities. The regulations for national exams allow an extra hour for students with any disability, as they work at a slower pace. We limit the extra time to an hour to ensure it does not disrupt the overall exam schedule.”

Overall, in the 2023/2024 academic year, 96.8% of primary school students passed their national exams, while 93.8% of lower secondary students were successful.