16
May

Schools in remote areas of Rwanda have welcomed the government's initiative to deploy solar power, aiming to connect nearly 1,000 schools by the end of 2025. The effort is part of a new energy policy introduced in February 2025.

Cyamburara Primary School, located in the remote Buhabwa Village, had operated without electricity since its founding in 2003. The lack of power hindered teaching and learning, forcing teachers to travel 35 kilometers to print exam papers and other essential documents. The cost of transportation, over 3,000 Rwandan francs per trip, further strained the school's limited resources.

"Every week, students take tests, and we had to make these long trips for printing," explained Ladislas Marora, the school head-teacher.

The absence of electricity also delayed government initiatives such as the "laptop-per-child" program and teacher laptop distribution. Before the solar installation, students learned about computers only through textbook illustrations.

"We don't know how to use computers, and we haven't seen any in our school. We only know about them in theory," said Odile Abanabayo, a Primary five pupil.

The benefits of solar power extend beyond schools. Local residents, like Claudette Nyirabaributsa from Kayonza District, highlighted the financial relief of having access to electricity.

"Our family was spending 1,200 Rwandan francs weekly on phone charging in distant urban centers. With solar power at the school, we're saving both money and time," she said.

Other rural schools face similar challenges. Emmanuel Nzasingizuhoraho, a teacher at GS Ruhanga in Gakenke District, noted that while his school recently received solar panels, the lack of a computer lab and consistent internet access continues to affect teaching quality and student retention.

"We can now download books, songs, and plays, enriching our teaching," he said, emphasising the importance of expanding digital resources.

Parents and students are advocating for solar power to be extended to homes, enabling children to study at night and improve their academic performance.

"If we had electricity or solar power, our children could study at night, improving their grades," said Felicien Nkundakozera, a resident of Muyira Sector, Nyanza District.

According to the Rwanda Education Statistical Yearbook, approximately 20 percent of schools still lack electricity. This equates to nearly 1,000 schools struggling without power. The Ministry of Education has identified 551 schools without electricity and is exploring solar power solutions.

Rwanda aims to achieve 95 percent electricity access in schools by 2029, up from the current 80.7 percent. The government's education sector strategic plan (2024-2029) emphasizes ICT integration, targeting an increase in schools using digital learning from 41.1 percent to 65 percent.