Rwanda
2,401
Connected schools
1,796
Unconnected schools
Nearly all Rwandan schools are within 30km of the fiber network and covered by mobile broadband, but 1,796 schools (43%) remain without internet.
Number of connected & unconnected schools: Rwanda MINEDUC Statistics, 2019
Schools present an opportunity to target investment, reach unconnected communities, and enable economic growth.
In Rwanda, a rise in broadband connectivity can increase GDP growth by $400M (+1.4%). In partnership with the government, Giga has identified activities to support digital growth through school connectivity.
The Government of Rwanda is investing in connectivity, classroom infrastructure, and digital content to empower learners with digital skills
Empowering Learners through Curriculum Revision
The primary goals of the Education Sector Strategy 2018-2024 include developing digital content aligned to the curriculum; increased ICT penetration and usage in education through smart classrooms; the development of ICT for education leadership and teacher training to improve teacher digital literacy.
Transforming schools through the SMART classroom program
The Ministry of Education’s (MINEDUC) SMART Classroom program aims to provide ICT devices, digital content and internet connectivity to primary and secondary schools. The Government of Rwanda is speeding up school electrification as a baseline for SMART Classrooms.
Ecosystem Investment in DPGs
The Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) has prioritized working with domestic startups to build national capacity, as well as host locally. MINEDUC has an open-source e-learning platform for K-12, as well as virtual interactive apps adapted from S. Africa, and is looking to support Rwanda’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem to develop home-grown solutions.
Giga can support the Government to leverage high levels of coverage to close connectivity gaps quickly and align with the existing SMART classrooms program. Some of Giga’s priority areas for collaboration in Rwanda include:
Using Giga mapping to identify school-level energy resources and internet connectivity needs and refine business cases for separate packages of investment.
Mobilizing concessionary investment to deploy last and middle-mile solutions to connect the remaining 1,796 schools.
Empowering the local startup ecosystem to produce digital content and digital public goods for use across the region.
From schools to communities
Schools are often the centre of communities. Giga hopes to explore sustainable models to use the school as a hub to connect people in the local community. Through school and community connectivity, Giga can support the Government of Rwanda to meet its mission of establishing access to broadband connectivity as a basic utility and right for all Rwandans.
1 School
726 Students & teachers
