The Ministry of Education in Rwanda (MINEDUC) reports that out of the country’s population of 13,550,000, 4,766,125 are attending school at various levels of education, from pre-primary schools to adult literacy programs. This information was shared by the State Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Irere Claudette, during Rwanda’s celebration of International Teachers’ Day on 12/12/2025 under the theme “Education is a profession that requires cooperation.”
Irere Claudette stated that 35% of Rwandans being in school reflects the progress the country has made in education. She added that efforts are aimed at improving the quality of education, increasing teachers’ capacities, and aligning education with labor market needs, particularly in technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
MINEDUC data shows that Rwanda has 5,041 educational institutions at different levels. These include 4,264 pre-primary schools, 4,108 primary schools, 1,916 schools with general secondary education, 981 schools with upper secondary education, 581 technical and vocational training schools, and 120 professional education institutions. Of these, 72% are public or government-assisted, while the rest are private.
In basic education, more than 3 million students are in primary schools, while 605,229 attend pre-primary schools. In secondary education, over 598,000 are in general secondary education and 196,384 in upper secondary education. More than 116,791 are in technical and vocational education, 12,423 in short-term vocational programs, 15,543 in polytechnics, 114,931 in tertiary institutions and universities, and 99,255 are adults attending literacy programs.
Regarding teachers and school leaders, Rwanda has a total of 133,029, including 117,839 teachers and 15,190 school leaders. Gasabo District has the highest number of teachers at 6,338, while Nyarugenge District has the lowest at 2,795. About 69% of teachers hold upper secondary education certificates (A2), 21% hold a university diploma (A0), and 10% hold a first-level university degree (A1). Among them, most women hold A2 certificates, while most men hold university degrees.
In school leadership, 74% of institutions are led by men and 26% by women. Regarding the 2024/25 national exams, in primary schools, Kirehe District had the highest pass rate at 97%, while Nyaruguru was last at 65%. In general secondary education, Kirehe was highest at 93% and Musanze last at 49%. In upper secondary education final exams, Kayonza District led with 97% while Kamonyi was last at 85%.
Over the next five years (2024–2029), the government plans to focus on improving the quality of education at all levels, promoting technical and vocational education, increasing the number of children in pre-primary education (from 35% to 65%), and continuing adult literacy programs.
