Here below are answers to some of your questions regarding Building Learning Foundations (BLF)

Q : What is the Building Learning Foundations Programme ?

A : The Building Learning Foundations Programme (BLF) is a programme of the Rwanda Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) and Rwanda Education Board (REB) ; it is funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID). We are working to improve learning outcomes in English and Mathematic at P1 to P3 in all government and government aided primary schools in Rwanda.

Q : Which programmes does Building Learning Foundations offer to schools in Rwanda ?

A : We provide self and peer learning tool kits to all English and Mathematics teachers of P1 to P3.The toolkits consist of printed books with supporting audio-visual materials on removable media SD cards for use on teachers’ own mobile phones for each teacher and two smartphones for each school so that teachers can watch instructional BLF videos and film their own classes for self-reflection and peer discussion. Our programme also focuses on strengthening school leadership by transforming Head Teachers’ practices through a system of coaching and academically-accredited, workplace-based, Continuing Professional Development courses. BLF also equips education sector officials at sector, district and national levels to with appropriate tools and skills to plan for the successful implementation of education policies aligned to the Education Sector Strategic Plan.

Q : Which schools are eligible to benefit from the Building Learning Foundations programme ?

A : All government and government aided primary schools in Rwanda receive support from the Building Learning Foundations programme.

Q : How does BLF support School General Assembly Committees (SGACs) ?

A : BLF supports the design of a capacity development framework of SGACs. This framework describes chairperson’s competences and needs to fulfil their responsibilities of supporting and holding head teachers to account. In addition, basing on this framework, BLF organizes a training for 2500 chairpersons (presidents). This training will benefit also the MINEDUC inspectors and Sector Education Officers and all of whom help to ensure that school quality contributes directly to the improvement of learning outcomes by supervising, monitoring and holding schools to account as well as giving feedback to relevant authorities and stakeholders regarding teaching and learning.

Q : How will BLF support children with Special Education Needs ?

A : BLF focuses on identifying pupils with Special Education Needs and improving the teaching of those pupils to impact on their learning. BLF will focus both on what teachers can do to support learners with special educational needs, including those with disabilities, and on what could be provided directly to children with disabilities to improve their learning.

Q : Does BLF work with teachers of English and Mathematics during school holiday ?

A : No. BLF encourages teachers to continue with self-study and use the holidays as an opportunity to catch up and improve their teaching practice.

Q : Does BLF provide all learners with pupil books ?

A : BLF will provide English pupil activity books for P2 and P3 at a ratio of one book for two learners.

Q : Does BLF provide smart phones to all teachers of English and Mathematics for their own use ?

A : No. BLF provides two smart phones per school for the teachers to share. Ie one for English teachers and another for Mathematics teachers. BLF provides every Mathematics and English teacher with an extra SD card that they can use in their own phones. This SD card has the resources that are found in the printed toolkits as well as the smart phones and could be used at a teachers’ own time.

Q : Does BLF request any teachers to pay any fees to attend toolkit orientations or even have access to the toolkits ?

A : No. BLF’s resources are owned by Rwanda Education Board and are not for sale. The materials are distributed to all English and Mathematics teachers of P1-P3 from all government schools in Rwanda.

Q : How will BLF support teachers of English and Mathematics to create locally made instructional materials ?

A : BLF will distribute samples of the essential classroom materials to support Mathematics teachers of P1-P3.BLF will also train teachers on how to create their own teaching aides using local resources to support their mathematics lessons.

Q : Is Building Learning Foundations a funding agency ?

A : No. Building Learning Foundations is a programme of the Rwanda Ministry of Education that aims to improve learning outcomes at P1 to P3 in English and Mathematics. The programme is funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID). All the funds are aimed at implementing this programme in all 2,500 primary schools in Rwanda.

Q : Which organisations implement the Building Learning Foundations programme ?

A : Building Learning Foundations is a well-designed programme involving three Consortium partners all of whom are contributing to all three Foundations, in addition to which ; the Education Development Trust, as the Consortium Lead, assumes responsibility for overall implementation, the British Council leads on language and pedagogy, while VSO is mainly responsible for inclusion and field implementation.