The Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB) has officially invited eligible secondary schools across Rwanda to apply for the Associate Nursing Programme (ANP). The initiative is part of the Government of Rwanda's ongoing efforts to strengthen the country's healthcare workforce while creating new educational and career opportunities for young people.
According to the official REB letter
dated July 30, 2026, schools offering the Science Stream (Stream One)
are encouraged to submit applications if they meet the required standards.
What
Is the Associate Nursing Programme (ANP)?
The Associate Nursing Programme
(ANP) is a strategic initiative under the Government of Rwanda's 4x4 Health
Workforce Reform, implemented through the Second National Strategy for
Transformation (NST2).
The programme aims to:
- Equip students with practical nursing skills.
- Support Rwanda's growing healthcare system.
- Create employment opportunities for young Rwandans.
- Provide a pathway to higher education in health-related
professions.
Positive
Results from the First Cohorts
REB notes that the first two ANP
cohorts have already produced encouraging outcomes:
- Approximately 50% of graduates are pursuing
higher education.
- Around 30% are employed in primary healthcare
facilities.
- About 20% are both working and continuing their
education.
These results demonstrate the
programme's impact on both education and employment in Rwanda's health sector.
Why
REB Is Expanding the Programme
The Government of Rwanda has set a
national target of enrolling 2,000 students in the Associate Nursing
Programme by September 2026.
To achieve this goal, REB is
expanding the number of participating schools throughout the country.
Minimum
Requirements for Schools
Schools wishing to offer the
Associate Nursing Programme must meet the following conditions:
- Be a boarding secondary school offering the Science
Stream (Stream One).
- Have enough boarding capacity to accommodate additional
students.
- Have dedicated classrooms for Senior 4 to Senior 6
ANP students.
- Maintain one classroom for each ANP class.
- Provide a dedicated room that can serve as a nursing
simulation laboratory.
- Be located within one kilometre of a district
hospital that accepts clinical placements, or have reliable transportation
to a clinical training site.
- Demonstrate strong academic performance based on
previous national examination results.
Application
Deadline
Interested schools are requested to
submit their applications to NESA with copies sent to the Ministry of
Health.
Deadline: 14 August 2026
Applications will undergo a
readiness assessment before approval.
Why
This Programme Matters
The Associate Nursing Programme
represents an important investment in Rwanda's future healthcare system.
By expanding access to nursing
education, the country hopes to:
- Address the shortage of skilled healthcare
professionals.
- Improve healthcare services nationwide.
- Increase employment opportunities for young people.
- Strengthen collaboration between the education and
health sectors.
This initiative aligns with Rwanda's
long-term vision of building a highly skilled workforce capable of meeting
national development goals.
Key
Highlights
- Issued by:
Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB)
- Date:
30 July 2026
- Programme:
Associate Nursing Programme (ANP)
- Target Schools:
Boarding secondary schools offering Science Stream (Stream One)
- National Target:
2,000 students by September 2026
- Application Deadline:
14 August 2026
The REB's call for applications
marks another significant milestone in Rwanda's education and healthcare
transformation. Schools that meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to
apply and become part of a programme that is already producing positive
educational and employment outcomes.
As Rwanda continues investing in
health workforce development, the Associate Nursing Programme is expected to
play a vital role in preparing the next generation of qualified healthcare
professionals.
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