The Ministry of Education, in partnership with the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), October 6, 2025, has welcomed a new cohort of 50 OIF teacher-volunteers to Rwanda. The volunteers will spend the year supporting the country’s efforts to enhance the teaching and learning of French, particularly in Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs) and secondary schools nationwide.
The official welcoming ceremony, held in Kigali, was presided over by Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimana and attended by senior officials from the Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB), alongside Dr. Rennie Yotova, OIF’s Director for the Teaching and Learning of French. The event marked another key milestone in the growing partnership between Rwanda and OIF to strengthen multilingual education across the nation.
In his address, Sir, Nsengimana praised the long-standing collaboration with OIF, describing the Projet de mobilité des enseignantes et enseignants de et en Français au Rwanda as “a cornerstone of Rwanda’s language-in-education policy.”
“Through this collaboration with OIF, our schools have gained skilled educators, and our teachers and students have developed renewed enthusiasm and confidence in using the French language,” he said.
The Minister noted the tangible progress achieved since 2020, including the establishment of Francophone clubs, national competitions in debate, spelling, theatre, and poetry, as well as cultural exchange programmes in schools. Welcoming the third cohort of volunteers from 15 Francophone countries, he applauded their commitment and urged host schools to view the initiative as a two-way learning opportunity.
“Education is a bridge between nations,” he added. “Your presence reflects the spirit of the Francophonie family. Rwanda is your second home.”
Representing OIF, Dr. Rennie Yotova commended Rwanda’s unwavering commitment to advancing French language learning and promoting quality education. She emphasized that the volunteer programme illustrates the Francophonie’s “tangible support for education improvement through cooperation, cultural exchange, and shared growth.”
“These young professionals are not only here to share their skills—they are here to build bridges of cooperation and solidarity,” she said, encouraging the volunteers to embrace their mission with passion and resilience.
Now in its fifth year, the OIF teacher-volunteer programme continues to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and cultural exchange that define the Francophonie. With over 150 volunteers having served since 2020, the initiative has played a key role in advancing French language education in Rwanda’s schools and aligns with the country’s vision of producing globally competent, multilingual graduates.
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