Rwandan Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimana, announced that the Government of Rwanda is launching a project to build model schools that will accommodate children with disabilities across all provinces and in Kigali City. He said, “These schools will have adequate equipment, specialized teachers, and classrooms specifically designed to teach children with different disabilities.”
At the National Inclusive Education Meeting held on December 27, 2025, Nsengimana stated that within the next four years, these schools will start operating nationwide. He said, “So far, we have started constructing five model schools aimed at helping children with disabilities learn effectively, including buildings accessible to people with disabilities, specialized classrooms, dormitories, and other essential services.”
The Minister explained that this initiative aims to address the fact that most schools serving children with disabilities are privately operated, making it difficult for some parents to enroll their children due to limited financial means. He said, “These model schools will also help solve the problem where some children attending school struggled to access lessons easily.”
Nsengimana emphasized the importance of educating children with disabilities like all other children, stating that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure all children have equal educational opportunities, because, he said, “they are the ones who will build the country’s future.”
According to statistics from the National Council of Persons with Disabilities in June 2025, out of 145,362 people with disabilities, only 25.8% are employed, which is linked to having received education. He said, “This highlights the importance of continuing to invest in inclusive education.”
