Schools Enrichment

Background
Rwinkwavu is a rural community in Eastern Rwanda. Its members are subsistence farmers, and the Rwinkwavu Hospital and Partners In Health offices are the largest infrastructure and sources of employment for miles. Like many schools in rural Rwanda, the local Nkondo Primary School is overcrowded and underfunded; students rarely meet benchmarks for reading and math and most do not enter high school. In 2008 the national language of instruction in Rwanda switched to English, creating serious challenges for students and teachers alike. Between 2008 and 2010 not a single student from Nkondo Primary School passed the national exams required for admission into secondary school. This was largely due to the language barriers of the teachers and students. In 2011 staff at the Rwinkwavu District Hospital and Partners In Health came together to address this problem. They founded the Nkondo Enrichment Program, pairing professionals from the Rwinkwavu District Hospital and Partners In Health with Nkondo Primary School teachers. Together, they held weekly English enrichment classes for Nkondo Primary School students. In 2012, in order to provide comprehensive academic support, the program doubled in size (from 80 to 160 students) and began working with learners in primary grade 5. The program is now a two-year targeted intervention that builds English language literacy and key academic skills among Nkondo Primary School students. The first year of the program – when students are in primary grade 5 – focuses solely on English language skills with students grouped based on language proficiency. The second year of the program – when the students have moved up to primary grade 6 – focuses on content knowledge in key academic areas tested on the primary school promotional exams: English, math, science, social studies and IT.     In 2014, through the support of the program, 58 students have passed the entrance exam for Secondary School. We are aiming for yet greater numbers.    _DSC0017 (2)

Our Vision

We support Nkondo Primary School P5 and P6 students in their academic preparation, such that they are on-target in English, literacy and content-areas. This will allow at least 80% of students pass their P6 promotional exams and proceed to Secondary School outside of Rwinkwavu Sector.   Students reach these goals through effective instruction from their teachers, who are capacitated to use participatory and small-group teaching methodologies in order to enhance their students’ native and English language, literacy and content knowledge.

Our Model

We arm students with the academic skills they need to enter Secondary School through the following activities:
  1. Weekly academic support to 200 students in primary grades 5 & 6 in key high-stakes academic areas tested on the primary school promotional exams: English, math, science, social studies and IT.
  2. Capacity building for targeted primary grades 5 & 6 Nkondo Primary School teachers. This includes workshops on lesson planning, curriculum design, and course material preparation.
  3. Engaging parents and developing relationships to encourage active participation in their children’s learning. This includes linking parents to literacy courses in the community in order to expand their own literacy and English skills.
  4. Providing scholarships to secondary school students who have excelled in the program and demonstrate significant need.

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Our Successes

  • 58 students have passed the national primary school leaving exams since the founding of the program
  • 29 volunteers from Partners In Health and the Rwinkwavu District Hospital have dedicated their time to teaching students, writing curricula, and supporting the program
  • 3 teachers from Nkondo Primary School have dedicated their time to teach their students on the weekend and attend workshops
 

Our Team

 Jean Marie HabimanaJean Marie Website

Nkondo Enrichment Program Manager

I love teaching because I believe that education sets the foundation for the children’s future successes. Through NEP, I seek to positively contribute to the success of rural Rwinkwavu, which struggles to meet benchmarks in English, writing, math, Science and more. I love integrating young children into the world of learning  

 

Celia Website

Celia Reddick

Nkondo Enrichment Program Founder and Director

Why do you love teaching? Teaching is such a privilege and an adventure. I love the moment when a   student discovers something new – spells a new word, untangles a new math  equation. These are such moments of excitement, and they impact students’ lives and outcomes immensely        

Jean Felix

Mbuye  Jean Felix

Nkondo Enrichment program Science Teacher

If anyone had told me four years ago that I would be teaching primary school students, I would have politely laughed at them. When I finished my graduate studies, I discovered that there is a great gap in the education system in rural areas and I am proud to support Rwinkwavu students in their journey toward secondary school.

 

Clementine Masengesho Clementine

 Nkondo Enrichment program Social Studies Teacher

Education is the bedrock of social and economic development. Historically in Rwinkwavu and other rural areas, there is much need for additional academic support so that students can perform on their exams at the same rates as students in the cities. I am glad I joined NEP which aims to improve the education of our local students    

Francis Semana Francis

 Nkondo Enrichment program Social Studies Teacher

I like teaching because it is my career since 1979, Rwanda would be equally wonderful if every youngster has access to education. I am in favour of education and feel I could contribute to fight illiteracy in Rwanda.

 

Jean Felix

Mbuye  Jean Felix

Nkondo Enrichment program Science Teacher

If anyone had told me four years ago that I would be teaching primary school students, I would have politely laughed at them. When I finished my graduate studies, I discovered that there is a great gap in the education system in rural areas and I am proud to support Rwinkwavu students in their journey toward secondary school.      

Joyce

MUKABARANGA JOYCE

Nkondo Enrichment program English Teacher

I love teaching because I feel I could return home and give back the help I got when I was in my secondary School, I am glad I completed my studies from the help I got from such Program ”Komera Project” I realized that through NEP my help can impact the lives as it provide the education from primary schools.      

EmelienneBAMPIRE EMELIENNE

Nkondo Enrichment program Math Teacher

I love teaching because it is one way I feel I can contribute to the educational needs of this area.      

???????????????????????????????REMY PACIFIQUE NTIRENGANYA

Pharmacy Program Manager at Partners In Health and

Volunteer teacher at Nkondo Enrichment Program. Pacifique holds the Bachelor’s Degree of Sciences in Pharmacy and he’s currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Public Health at University of Rwanda. He has a deep humanitarian sense and keen interest in social equity, global health and research.“I love teaching because Education is a human right and it’s our social responsibility to promote it. In fact, I have realized that the old adage,“it’s better to give than to receive” is true after all. I believe that everybody, poor or rich, takes from the society and teaching is one of the ways to give back to the community and show a sense of appreciation.Especially, I love seeing kids participating in the general quiz competition where they are asked and are given opportunities to ask various questions in diverse domains. This enhances their willingness to learn new things, to help them get an urge to develop an ability to satisfy their curiosity and become open minded