The Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) has issued new instructions requiring all schools in Rwanda to dedicate Friday afternoon to formal Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes while protecting learners' instructional time from unnecessary interruptions.
In an official letter dated 2 November 2026, signed by the Minister of State for Education, Claudette IRERE, the Ministry provided guidance to all headteachers and school managers on the effective use of designated CPD time and the protection of teaching and learning hours.
1. Fridays Reserved for Formal Teacher Professional Development
Effective immediately, every Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. must be exclusively dedicated to formal teacher professional development programmes.
According to the Ministry, the seven formal CPD courses provided under the Teacher Statute are:
1. English Language and Communication Skills
2. Understanding Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) Approaches
3. Teaching Children with Special Educational Needs
4. Effective School Leadership
5. Teachers’ Professional Ethics and Conduct
6. Digital Literacy Skills
7. Guidance and Counselling in Schools
The Ministry has particularly encouraged all teachers and school leaders to prioritise the English Language and Communication Skills course until the other formal CPD courses become available.
This emphasis follows findings from national and international learning assessments, including the Learning Achievement in Rwandan Schools (LARS) and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which highlighted significant gaps in learners' reading skills, particularly reading comprehension.
2. English Language Training Through Online Platforms
The Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB) and Rwanda TVET Board (RTB) will communicate when the remaining formal CPD courses become available on their respective e-learning platforms.
In the meantime, teachers and school leaders are strongly encouraged to participate in the English Language Proficiency Training Programme and use the designated Friday CPD period to improve their English language competencies.
Headteachers are also required to facilitate access to school computers, digital devices and internet connectivity to support teachers' participation in online CPD courses.
Where feasible, schools should extend access to these facilities beyond designated CPD hours, including weekends, particularly for teachers who do not have reliable internet access at home.
3. Schools Must Protect Learners' Instructional Time
The Ministry has also directed schools to protect learners' instructional time, which runs from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Schools are required to avoid unnecessary interruptions during regular teaching hours.
Consequently:
- Meetings should not be scheduled during regular instructional hours.
- Ceremonies and school visits should not interrupt classroom teaching.
- Other non-instructional activities should be organised outside designated teaching hours.
- Activities intended to complement the curriculum should be integrated into the co-curricular period.
The Ministry has designated the period from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Thursday, for co-curricular activities.
School leaders are responsible for ensuring that these arrangements are consistently implemented so that learners benefit fully from the time allocated to teaching and learning.
4. Responsibilities of Headteachers and School Managers
Headteachers and school managers are expected to ensure that teachers effectively use the designated Friday CPD period for formal professional development.
They must also facilitate access to digital learning resources and ensure that school activities do not unnecessarily interfere with classroom instruction.
The Ministry emphasises that strengthening teachers' professional competencies, particularly English language proficiency and effective literacy instruction, is important for improving the quality of education and learners' academic performance.
Summary of the New MINEDUC Instructions
| Activity | Designated time |
|---|---|
| Regular instructional hours | 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. |
| Co-curricular activities | Monday–Thursday, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Formal teacher CPD | Friday, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Priority CPD course | English Language and Communication Skills |
Download the Official MINEDUC Letter
Letter to All Headteachers- CPD time
Headteachers, school managers, teachers and other education stakeholders can consult the official communication for detailed guidance on the implementation of these instructions.
Date: 2 November 2026
Issued by:Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), Rwanda
Signed by:Claudette IRERE, Minister of State for Education.
Source:Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), Official Letter No. 1711/12.00/2026.
All schools are expected to implement these instructions immediately.
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