The Ministry of Education of Rwanda Education Lab

• In Event: Adapting to Context for Effective Data and Evidence Uptake: A Comparison between Embedded Labs in Côte d’Ivoire, Peru, and Rwanda

Proposal

This case study examines the Rwanda Education Lab, an initiative launched by the Ministry of Education in 2019. Since its inception, the Lab has played a crucial role in supporting various agencies, including MINEDUC, the National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA), and the Rwanda Education Board (REB), in enhancing their information systems, utilizing data for informed decision-making, and scaling evidence-based policies. One notable example is the Lab's support for scaling performance-based teacher contracts. This program, which underwent rigorous evaluation, demonstrated significant improvements in both teacher performance and student learning outcomes. In response to these positive results, the Ministry asked the Lab to expand the program and test different delivery methods to identify the most effective approach. Additionally, the Lab is focused on developing robust information systems and capabilities to ensure high-quality implementation of the program at scale, leveraging admin data for producing quick descriptive analysis that helps decision-makers to actively manage the program as it expands. By 2023, the incentive scheme had reached 4,762 teachers and 207,523 primary students.

Through a combination of documentary analysis and interviews with key stakeholders, this case study highlights how the Rwanda Education Lab adapted its structure and strategy to manage the involvement of multiple educational agencies: MINEDUC, NESA, and REB. The study details how the Lab successfully aligned the agendas of these institutions to enhance the country’s educational policy. It also addresses the challenges of promoting evidence-based practices within Rwanda's complex governance context.

Authors

• William Sims, Innovations For Poverty Action

• Jean Leodomir HABARIMANA MFURA, Innovations for Poverty Action