Speaking during a consultative meeting held on July 31 with primary and lower secondary school teachers, Minister of Education Joseph Nsengimana said the government had adopted a three-year phased plan to boost teachers' capacity in English, the official language of instruction.

"Those who fail the test will undergo further training. No one will be dismissed just because they haven’t yet met the required level within this first phase," he said.

He referenced new teacher guidelines issued last year that set out the English language competency teachers are expected to achieve in order to deliver lessons effectively. According to the Minister, newly recruited teachers will be assessed to ensure they already meet the standard before deployment, while current teachers will undergo a structured three-year training program.

"This is the first year of implementation. Before receiving training, all teachers take an initial assessment so we can determine their current level. That way, the training can be tailored to their needs, and we can track their progress toward the target," he explained.

Minister Nsengimana acknowledged that many current teachers especially those graduating from Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs) lack sufficient English proficiency due to gaps in earlier training. "In the past, even when they sat for an English test, it wasn’t at the level required for teaching. That’s why many teachers still struggle," he said.

He emphasized that Rwanda has chosen English as the official language of instruction, making it essential for teachers to become fluent. "When teachers have strong English skills, students also learn and understand better," he concluded.