Education, Health, and Justice Allocated Over 1.732 Billion Rwandan Francs for the 2024/2025 Fiscal Year

The Inspirer.

Various sectors, including education, health, and justice, have been allocated over 1.732 billion Rwandan Francs (Frw) in the 2024/2025 fiscal budget, aiming to improve the well-being of Rwandans and build a strong foundation in basic education.

For many years, the education sector has been focused on enhancing the quality of education, from primary schools to higher education institutions and universities. The 2024/2025 budget outlines key initiatives in the education sector, including the construction of new classrooms and the improvement of basic education quality.

Overall, the education sector has been allocated RWF 792.7 billion. This includes RWF 46.5 billion dedicated to the Quality Basic Education for Human Capital Development project in Rwanda; RWF 7.9 billion for the construction and renovation of classrooms across the country; and RWF 14.6 billion for building, expanding infrastructure, and providing equipment in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) schools.

The government also aims to increase the number of men and women with advanced degrees, which will require RWF 52.1 billion. Although the school feeding program is not explicitly mentioned in these initiatives, it is expected to consume a significant portion of the budget, as last year it was allocated over RWF 91 billion, and the number of students continues to grow.

Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente recently announced that through the school feeding program, the government feeds 25% of the entire Rwandan population since there are over 4 million students. Teacher training schools are also expected to continue receiving upgrades, as by the end of the fiscal year in June 2024, they had reached a 37.3% completion rate. Additionally, dormitories will be constructed at Don Bosco School in Rushaki Sector, at a cost of RWF 265.2 million.

In the health sector, over RWF 376.3 billion will be spent. This includes RWF 77.7 billion for the fight against malaria and other epidemic diseases such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis; RWF 7 billion for providing medical equipment; and RWF 2.3 billion for maternal and child health care, among other initiatives.

In the previous fiscal year, the construction of a maternity ward at Kibagabaga Hospital was 50% complete, while Masaka Hospital was 60% complete and is being upgraded to the level of a teaching hospital.

In the justice, reconciliation, and rule of law sector, RWF 563.2 billion is allocated. The justice sector focuses on investigating crimes and following up on cases until they are resolved, whether through reconciliation or punishment of those found guilty.

There is also an effort to educate the public about the law and adjudicate cases, from basic courts handling criminal and civil cases to higher courts across the country, including the Supreme Court and other courts that operate around the clock.

Statistics show that in the 2022/2023 fiscal year, the number of cases filed in the courts, including substantive and pretrial detention cases, totaled 112,284, with 83,097 (74%) being criminal cases.

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