Rebuilding Rwanda: From Genocide to Prosperity through Education

Overview & Synopsis

Rwanda is on the verge of a breakthrough. Having weathered one of the worst humanitarian crises imaginable just fifteen years ago, and with an impoverished countryside plagued by HIV/AIDS, hunger, and malaria, Rwanda seems an unlikely place for an economic renaissance. Yet the nation's commitment to good government and support for free market solutions place it among the most likely countries to see rapid advancement in the coming decades. Such a future is far from guaranteed, and whether it comes to fruition depends largely on the country's system of education. For Rwanda, more than for almost any other country, education holds the key to the future. Rwanda is a small, landlocked country in Central Africa (about the size of Maryland) with a population of just more than 10 million people. With the highest population density of any African country and a high growth rate, Rwanda cannot depend on its natural resources for economic development. However, there are many reasons to be optimistic about Rwanda's prospects for developing a strong education system. The Rwandan government has demonstrated its commitment to education by making education the largest area of federal spending, accounting for 27 percent of the budget. As foundations and philanthropies look for investments that will foster democracy and support free market innovations, Rwanda's education sector must be a prime candidate. Strengthening education in Rwanda will not only help the Rwandan people overcome poverty, but it will also reinforce the democratic institutions Rwanda has developed in the last fifteen years. Five appendices are included: (1) Interview Schedule; (2) Students Enrolled in Higher Education Institutions; (3) Higher Education Institutions 1994-2008; (4) Primary Education Statistics; and (5) Secondary Education Statistics. (Contains 6 charts and 124 endnotes.)