"Mission Schools International is an investment in our future and will educate tomorrow's leaders of Rwanda."
-Dr. Daphrose Ghakwa, Minister of Education Rwanda
Students
Serve students with no access to education
By addressing the deficit of secondary schools in Rwanda, MSI will provide education for students who would not otherwise have been given the opportunity of further education. Students will be charged a nominal tuition fee, but because MSI aims to serve the poorest sector of the population, it will ensure that no student is turned away due to cost. The majority of students will be unable to cover costs on their own, so they will be sponsored by donors. These sponsorships will cover tuition fees as well as the cost of books, uniforms, transportation, etc. which preclude many students from attending school.
Provide for basic nutrition and healthcare
Providing education, healthcare, and nutrition collectively is the only way to effect sustainable long-term change and progress in a community. MSI is currently working with physicians at Massachusetts General Hospital and Partners in Health to develop the basic medical screenings each student will receive. MSI is also working with faculty and students at Harvard School of Public Health to develop a nutrition plan.
Low student-teacher ratios
Rwandan Schools- 1 teacher:67 students
MSI Schools- 1 teacher:30 students
Low student-teacher ratios are one of the keys to a successful educational environment. Currently, the teacher:student ratio in Rwanda's government schools is 1:67. MSI strives to have a maximum teacher:student ratio of 1:30. MSI feels that this ratio strikes a good balance between providing education to as many students as possible while giving enough personalized attention to each student to provide an exceptional education.
Faculty and U.S. volunteers
U.S. volunteers will be primarily recent college graduates who commit to two years of service as a teacher. The majority of the faculty will be paid teachers from the local community. MSI is committed to paying its teachers a living wage.
University preparatory education
Providing students with the opportunity for higher education is one of the most effective long-term strategies for stability and development in underdeveloped nations. MSI will primarily follow the Rwandan national curriculum. MSI will utilize a competitive, university preparatory curriculum which will most effectively allow its students to compete for admission to regional universities. MSI will also enhance these curricula, particularly in the area of critical thinking skills, to ensure each graduate is prepared for a global society. Each school will include modern science labs and computer facilities, ample space for prayer and reflection, and a substantial library where all books are freely available to all students.
Focus on science, technology, and entrepreneurship
MSI is developing additions to the curriculum which will focus on science, technology, and entrepreneurship. All of these areas have been identified by the Rwandan government as critical for the development of their country. Students highly educated in these sectors will not only be able to obtain jobs, but more importantly, be able to create jobs and build an economy.
Extended school day
In order to be academically prepared for university study, students will need to spend significant time outside the classroom in a safe, quiet, and well-lit environment working on their studies. To achieve this, the schools in Rwinkwavu will be boarding, so students' needs are met even outside the classroom.
Sports and activities
In addition to developing the mind and spirit of each student, each school will provide for organized sports and activities. Such activities are important for students' physical health and the development of critical teamwork, leadership, and conflict resolution skills. The Rwinkwavu schools' campus will be designed to maximize the potential for sports and activities by including athletic fields and space for group activities.
Performing and visual arts
MSI will develop the whole student and explore students' different talents and modes of expression through courses within the curriculum as well as after school activities in the performing and visual arts. The Rwinkwavu schools have formed a partnership with Ivuka Arts, a group of Rwandan artists who hope to revitalize Rwanda's contemporary art culture which was nearly destroyed during the 1994 genocide. MSI will sponsor an "Artist-in-Residence" program with Ivuka artists who, in exchange for studio space and supplies, will teach visual arts classes to students. The Rwinkwavu campus will feature an art center which will include studio space, classrooms, and a gallery.
For more information on the MSI arts program please click here.
Place students in local and regional universities
MSI will work to have each of its graduates placed in a local or regional university. One of the critical problems facing underdeveloped countries in Africa is "brain drain." African students who study close to their home country are more likely to return and participate in its growth than are African students who study in the West. While MSI will be very supportive and indeed proud of its students who study in the United States or European Union, MSI schools will focus efforts on connecting students with local higher education opportunities.
Alumni network
MSI students will feel that they have a lifetime connection both to their school and to the broader MSI network. To this extent each school will continually connect with its graduates and provide them with the guidance and resources they need following graduation. Graduates will feel comfortable using the alumni network to help identify employment opportunities or for other issues where the network can help. It is unlikely that the alumni will be economically capable of playing a significant role in funding of the schools in the near future.