Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB) Rolls Out Revised Secondary School Curriculum for 2026/2027
The Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB), under Director General Dr. Nelson Mbarushimana, has officially issued new directives regarding the implementation of the revised curriculum and teaching materials for secondary schools, starting with the 2026/2027 academic year.
Following a comprehensive evaluation in 2025 of the competency-based curriculum introduced back in 2016, REB initiated strategic revisions to address content overlap and optimize real learning time.
Key Curriculum Updates
* Adjusted Academic Schedule: The curriculum is now streamlined to fit a 33-week academic year, down from the previous 36 weeks.
* Age-Appropriate Content: Topics were refined to eliminate unnecessary repetition and ensure content aligns with student age, understanding, and capacity.
* French Language Framework: French has been updated from a second language curriculum model to a foreign language framework to better reflect current teaching contexts.
* Transition to Learning Pathways: In Upper Secondary, traditional "Combinations" have been replaced by "Learning Pathways," alongside updated subject hour allocations. Lower Secondary maintains its existing subjects and hours but benefits from optimized materials.
Implementation Guidelines by Level
| School Level | Implementation Rules for 2026/2027 |
| Lower Secondary (S1–S3) | All S1, S2, and S3 students will immediately transition to the revised curriculum and teaching materials. All assessments and national exams will follow the updated system.
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| Upper Secondary (S4–S5) | S4 and S5 students will adopt the new revised curriculum and Learning Pathways.
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| Upper Secondary (S6) | Final-year S6 students will continue with the former curriculum and "Combinations" to complete their studies without interruption.
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| Primary Schools | Primary materials have been finalized after prior testing and are available for digital use or print based on school resources.
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| Specialized Pathways | Professional Education (e.g., Associate Nursing, Accounting, and TTC) will continue with their current programs, except for incoming Year 1 TTC students, who will start a new 5-year program.
Digital Access and Trial Phase
All revised secondary teaching materials are currently hosted on the REB e-Learning Platform. The materials will undergo a one-year digital evaluation phase to allow for ongoing feedback, minor corrections, and continuous improvement. Schools are encouraged to utilize digital versions on the platform during this pilot period rather than rushing to print physical copies.
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