Teachers benefit from personalized communication strategies

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian-run ProFuturo Digital Education Program in Rwanda is empowering teachers with digital skills and providing students with access to quality learning materials. As many teachers were unfamiliar with the technology tools, the program helped them get up to date.

Gisele Umugwaneza, a ProFuturo coach coordinating five private schools in Kigali, explained, “When we started the project, it was not easy. Training teachers was very difficult because they did not understand what the ProFuturo program will bring to them.”

Coaches like Umugwaneza implemented personalized communication strategies, and the program’s impact is now evident. Umugwaneza noted that teachers are now more motivated and capable of independently preparing students to use the digital tools. She explained, “Students are familiar with the tablet, how to navigate from one point to another. They can even work on them if the teacher is not there, ensuring continuity of learning.”

As a result of the program, some schools are increasing their enrollment and seeing students who had dropped out return to class. Other schools are starting to see an increase in test scores and reduced student dropout rates.

Agathe Kandema, a coach for six schools, highlighted the program’s contribution to inclusivity and access to learning resources. “The best of ProFuturo is that those students from the poor families have access to the content as the same level of the students from wealthier families.”

Dominique Uwarugira, ProFuturo project coordinator, emphasized the program’s widespread reach and impact. “So far, we have 42 schools under the supervision of the Salesians of Don Bosco. All the schools are motivated and committed to changing education in Rwanda and incorporating more digital education.”

Uwarugira also highlighted the program’s success in training teachers and students to use digital tools. “We can be happy to see that Rwandan children are now able to use digital tools in their studies. We can say it is a very good step in terms of the use of technology.”

Salesian missionaries provide a range of educational and social development services in Rwanda. Youth who are poor are able to access programs including health services, nutrition, education and general support services that help them to lead healthy productive lives. Salesians first arrived in the country in 1953. Today, there are six Salesian centers in Rwanda.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Rwanda – “A Game-Changer”: ProFuturo Coaches Lead Digital Education Revolution in Rwanda

Salesian Missions – Rwanda

UNICEF – Rwanda