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Uncertified A1 secondary school teachers attentively follow presentations during the CPD-GDE induction and orientation event at GS Kabgayi A.

The University of Rwanda – College of Education (UR-CE), in collaboration with the Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB), has officially launched the Continuous Professional Development – Graduate Diploma in Education (CPD-GDE) programme under the Rwanda Quality Basic Education for Human Capital Development (RQBEHCD) Project, Subcomponent 1.4. The programme targets secondary school teachers holding an A1 qualification in non-education fields, who are currently teaching without formal pedagogical training.

The induction and orientation event brought together about 150 targeted uncertified A1 secondary school teachers, alongside UR-CE and REB representatives, marking the beginning of a structured professional development pathway aligned with national education reforms and the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

Explaining the rationale behind CPD-GDE, Associate Professor Gabriel Nizeyimana, Team Leader of RQBEHCD Subcomponent 1.4 and Professor of Education Sciences at UR-CE, emphasized the need to professionalize classroom practice.

“CPD-GDE was designed to address the reality that many teachers entered classrooms with strong subject knowledge but without professional training in education,” he said. “To implement the Competency-Based Curriculum effectively, teachers must master pedagogy, assessment, classroom management, and inclusive teaching practices.”

Assoc. Prof. Gabriel Nizeyimana addresses teachers during the CPD-GDE induction at GS Kabgayi A.

He added :
“When teachers grow professionally, the entire education system grows with them. Professional teachers plan better, engage learners more effectively, and create meaningful learning experiences that improve outcomes.”

On programme delivery, he noted :
“The CPD-GDE is a full-time programme delivered over eight months through a blended approach, combining face-to-face sessions with online synchronous and asynchronous learning, supported by continuous assessment and classroom-based practice.”

From REB’s perspective, Mr. Kiviri William, Teacher Support and Management Specialist, stressed why training uncertified A1 teachers is a national priority.
"For REB, upgrading uncertified A1 secondary school teachers is essential to safeguard education quality and align teaching practice with national reforms,” he said. “Many of these teachers are committed and experienced, but without standardized pedagogical training, learners risk receiving uneven quality of education.”

Mr. Kiviri William from REB speaks to participants at the CPD-GDE induction session.

He underscored accountability and impact :
“REB is focused on ensuring that CPD-GDE learning translates into real classroom change through follow-up, coaching, classroom observation, and performance monitoring. This approach allows us to professionalize the existing workforce in a cost-effective and sustainable way, while reducing disparities in classroom quality across schools.”

Aligned with the National Teacher Professional Standards, CPD-GDE places teachers at the centre of Rwanda’s education quality and long-term human capital development.

Story by

NTIRANDEKURA Schadrac
PRO, UR-CE