Rwanda’s Prime Minister, Dr. Edouard Ngirente, has announced that teachers who do not know English could be dismissed if they fail a special assessment that will be conducted in the coming years.
He made this announcement on Thursday, June 19, 2025, while presenting a report to Parliament on the Government’s progress in improving the welfare of Rwandans.
The government has a plan to increase the number of English-proficient teachers, including continuing to bring in teachers from Zimbabwe to support English instruction in Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs).
The Prime Minister said that current teachers will be given two years to learn English, after which they will take a test. Those who pass will continue teaching, while those who fail will be removed from the profession.
He said:
“This program will help assess teachers’ ability in the English language. Anyone who is not able to teach in English will not be allowed to continue being a teacher.”
The program to assess teachers’ English skills has been discussed since 2018, aiming to raise the quality of education and align teaching with the language of instruction.
Education authorities affirm that these measures will help improve the quality of education in Rwanda, where English is one of the official languages required in schools.
