A recent appointment made by President Paul Kagame has seen Joseph Nsengimana take on the role of Minister of Education, replacing the previous minister who was reassigned to head the Rwanda Space Agency.
Nsengimana, along with two others, was named as part of the new cabinet members announced on Wednesday. Additionally, Nelly Mukazayire was appointed as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports.
Prior to his government role, Nsengimana held the position of Director at a foundation center focused on innovative teaching and learning in ICT, which is located in Kigali. The center collaborates with various stakeholders to promote the integration of technology in education across Africa.
With a background as the Executive Director of Global Diversity and Inclusion, Policy, Strategy, and External Partnerships at Intel Corporation, Nsengimana played a key role in shaping and executing Intel’s public policy and corporate affairs strategy in Africa. He was also responsible for overseeing government affairs, education, ICT, and broadband policies in Sub-Saharan Africa.
As the new education minister, Nsengimana is expected to champion Rwanda’s education agenda, which is recognized by the United Nations as crucial for the nation’s development goals. Leveraging his experience in utilizing technology to enhance education systems, Nsengimana will work closely with education ministers and stakeholders to drive this transformation.
Rwanda boasts a literacy rate of 71.4% and the highest net enrollment rate in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, challenges such as low government spending, capacity gaps, infrastructure limitations, and inadequate learning materials persist in the education sector. Addressing these issues will be a top priority for President Kagame, who recently began his fourth term in office in August 2024.
