Rwanda to dismiss teachers lacking English proficiency in major education reform

By The Inspirer.

Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente has announced that the Government of Rwanda is preparing to evaluate all primary and secondary school teachers on their English language proficiency.

Those who fail to demonstrate sufficient command of the language of instruction will be removed from their positions.

The announcement was made on Thursday, June 19, 2025, as Dr. Ngirente addressed both chambers of Parliament on the country’s progress in improving the welfare of Rwandans.

During the session, MP Balinda Rutebuka raised concerns about the quality of education, pointing to the limited English proficiency among teachers as a key challenge.

“The number of teachers who can effectively teach in English, the official language of instruction, remains very low,” Rutebuka said.

He warned that the inability of teachers to use English fluently significantly undermines the quality of education, stating, “No one can effectively teach in a language they do not understand.”

In response, Prime Minister Ngirente revealed that Rwanda has already begun addressing the issue by recruiting expert teachers from Zimbabwe to teach in the country’s 16 Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs). These instructors are helping prepare future Rwandan teachers to deliver lessons confidently in English.

“We brought in teachers from Zimbabwe and provided them with the necessary teaching resources. These TTCs were given special attention, and the trainees currently enrolled will graduate this academic year with strong English teaching skills,” he said.

Despite this progress, Ngirente noted that the number of graduates from TTCs will not be enough to meet the growing national demand. As a result, the government is also rolling out a broader two-year training program aimed at helping current in-service teachers improve their English proficiency.

“This two-year program will allow practicing teachers to study English. Afterward, they will sit for a national assessment. Those who pass will continue teaching. Those who fail and are deemed unable to teach in English will be removed from the profession,” Ngirente emphasized.

The government is in the final stages of designing this initiative, which will include the establishment of specialized English training centers for teachers. Once implemented, teachers who complete the course will undergo mandatory examinations to certify their language competency.

This sweeping reform marks a significant step in Rwanda’s ongoing efforts to improve the quality of education by aligning teacher capacity with the national curriculum’s language of instruction.