Q & AAfrica

How Switching From French to English Changed Education in Rwanda

How Switching From French to English Changed Education in Rwanda
Rwandan students in a classroom, Kigali, Rwanda, Nov. 2, 2006 (AP photo by Jens Kalaene).

Editor’s Note: This article is part of an ongoing WPR series about education policy in various countries around the world.

In 2008, Rwanda announced that it was switching the language of scholastic instruction from French to English. The move was implemented rapidly, and with decidedly mixed success—at least at first. In an email interview, Maria Ambrozy, a researcher with the Department of Politics and International Studies at SOAS University of London, explains the reason for the change and its effects.

WPR: What is the current state of Rwanda’s education system, and what are some of the biggest barriers to improving it?

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