Rwanda: Why Schools Are Giving Co-Curriculars More Time

What the report says

Rwanda’s education authorities are introducing a new school-day structure that will set aside the last 90 minutes of each day for co-curricular activities beginning in September, according to The New Times via AllAfrica. Under the plan, regular lessons will end at 3:30 p.m., while the period until 5 p.m. will be reserved for sports, arts, debates, leadership work, practical experiments and other activities tied to classroom learning.

The Rwanda Education Board says the change is meant to make learning more practical and better aligned with the country’s Competency-Based Curriculum. Flora Mutezigaju, the board’s deputy director general, said the goal is to help learners apply knowledge rather than treat these activities as separate extracurricular options. The reform does not change the overall school day, curriculum content or number of school days.

The article says the programme will differ by education level. Primary pupils will take part in sports, creative arts, Itorero, life skills and reading or language activities, while secondary students will also get technical, leadership, STEM and innovation-related activities. Schools will design their own schedules using board guidance, and teachers will be assigned to lead each activity.

The report adds that the change reflects a broader push toward holistic education, with emphasis on communication, teamwork, creativity and practical skills. Similar approaches are common in other education systems internationally, but the article presents Rwanda’s version as a more structured way to connect such activities to formal learning.