MINEDUC Announcement to all primary and secondary Teachers and school leaders.

 

The Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) has issued new instructions directing all schools in Rwanda to dedicate every Friday afternoon to formal Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes for teachers. The Ministry has also reminded schools to protect learners' instructional time and avoid unnecessary interruptions during classroom lessons.

The new instructions were communicated in an official letter dated 2 November 2026, signed by Claudette IRERE, Minister of State for Education.

The guidance applies to all headteachers, school managers and teachers across Rwanda, and schools are expected to implement it immediately.

1. Fridays Reserved for Teacher Professional Development

According to MINEDUC, every Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. must be used exclusively for formal teacher Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes.

The Teacher Statute provides seven formal CPD courses designed to improve teachers' professional knowledge and skills.

These courses include:

1. English Language and Communication Skills
2. Understanding Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) Approaches
3. Teaching Children with Special Educational Needs
4. Effective School Leadership
5. Teachers' Professional Ethics and Conduct
6. Digital Literacy Skills
7. Guidance and Counselling in Schools

The Ministry has particularly encouraged teachers and school leaders to prioritise the English Language and Communication Skills course until the other formal CPD courses become available.

This priority follows findings from national and international learning assessments, including LARS and PISA, which identified challenges in learners' reading abilities, especially reading comprehension.

2. Teachers Encouraged to Improve English Through Online Training

MINEDUC has encouraged teachers and school leaders to participate in the English Language Proficiency Training Programme using available online learning platforms.

The Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB) and Rwanda TVET Board (RTB) will communicate when the remaining formal CPD courses become available on their respective e-learning platforms.

To support teachers, headteachers are required to facilitate access to:

• School computers and digital devices.
• Reliable internet connectivity.
• Online learning platforms and other digital resources.

Where possible, schools should also allow teachers to use these facilities outside normal CPD hours, including weekends. This will particularly support teachers who do not have reliable internet access at home.

3. MINEDUC Directs Schools to Protect Learners' Teaching Time

Another important instruction concerns the protection of learners' instructional time.

The Ministry has clarified that regular teaching and learning hours run from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Schools must ensure that learners receive the full time allocated for classroom instruction.

To achieve this, schools are required to avoid unnecessary interruptions, including:

• Scheduling meetings during regular teaching hours.
• Organising ceremonies that interrupt classroom lessons.
• Conducting school visits that disturb teaching activities.
• Arranging other non-instructional activities during lesson time.

Activities designed to complement the curriculum should instead be integrated into the co-curricular period.

4. When Should Schools Organise Co-Curricular Activities?

According to the new MINEDUC instructions, the period from Monday to Thursday, between 3:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., is reserved for co-curricular activities.

This means schools should organise activities that support learners' development outside regular classroom teaching hours.

The designated time arrangements are as follows:

Activity	Designated time
Regular teaching and learning	8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Co-curricular activities	Monday–Thursday, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Formal teacher CPD	Friday, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Priority CPD course	English Language and Communication Skills

5. Responsibilities of Headteachers and School Managers

Headteachers and school managers have an important role in implementing these instructions.

They are expected to ensure that teachers use the designated Friday afternoon period effectively for professional development.

They must also provide the necessary support for online learning and make sure that school meetings, ceremonies and other activities do not unnecessarily interrupt classroom instruction.

MINEDUC emphasises that improving teachers' professional competencies, especially English language proficiency and literacy instruction, is important for strengthening the quality of education in Rwanda.

Headteachers, school managers, teachers and other education stakeholders can read the official communication to understand all the instructions and their implementation.

Official document: Letter to All Headteachers – CPD Time

Date: 2 November 2026

Issued by: Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), Rwanda

Signed by: Claudette IRERE, Minister of State for Education

Reference: Official Letter No. 1711/12.00/2026

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