Blended learning in action: teachers and students demonstrate results

Last week, the Rwanda TVET Board (RTB) welcomed Ms Claudette IRERE, Minister of State for Education, to a blended learning demonstration event. Bringing together students, teachers and school leaders from pilot technical secondary schools (TSS) supported by the Digital skills for quality TVET in Rwanda project, the event showcased how digital learning is being used in practice to make TVET more interactive, flexible and learner-centred. 

Through live demonstrations, participants showed how digital courses, online assessments and simulations are being integrated into teaching and learning. Students shared how having access to learning materials beyond the classroom helps them prepare for lessons, revisit difficult concepts and learn at their own pace. Teachers demonstrated how digital tools are supporting lesson delivery, learner engagement and assessment.

The event provided an opportunity for the Minister of State and other stakeholders to hear directly from those using blended learning every day and to see first-hand how schools are applying innovative approaches to improve the quality of TVET education.

The experience of ESTB Busogo illustrates the potential of this approach. According to the school, the introduction of blended learning has contributed to stronger learner engagement and improved academic performance.

Teachers and school leaders also report improvements in lesson preparation, learner assessment and the monitoring of student progress, helping to create a more effective and responsive learning environment. 

The demonstration event highlighted how teachers, students and school leaders are embracing new ways of teaching and learning. More than a showcase of digital tools, it illustrated how blended learning is supporting better learning experiences, strengthening digital skills and helping to prepare young Rwandans for the future world of work. Encouraged by the results achieved so far, RTB is now looking at how blended learning can be progressively scaled beyond the current 11 pilot schools so that more TVET learners and teachers across Rwanda can benefit from this approach.

Blended learning is piloted in 11 technical secondary schools in the framework of the Digital skills for quality TVET in Rwanda project, financed by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by the Rwandan TVET Board and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.