The Government of Zimbabwe has announced plans to offer university scholarships to Rwandan students, deepening educational collaboration between the two countries.
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, made the announcement during a visit to Kigali on Wednesday, August 6. He co-chaired the Third Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation (JPCC) alongside Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe.
“The cooperation between our nations in the education sector has been outstanding and stands as a model for Pan-African collaboration,” Murwira stated. The two governments signed five new bilateral agreements spanning key sectors such as energy, health, and education.
Currently, over 150 Zimbabwean teachers are working in Rwanda under a partnership that began in 2022. Minister Murwira confirmed that recruitment for a second group of Zimbabwean education professionals is well underway.
He also emphasised the potential for expanding joint efforts in science, technology, and innovation. “We are keen to explore collaboration in scientific, technical, and innovation domains, drawing on the strengths of both our countries,” he said.
As part of this growing cooperation, Zimbabwe is prepared to offer scholarships to Rwandan students for higher education at Zimbabwean institutions. The students will study under the country’s heritage-based ‘Education 5.0’ model, which emphasises innovation, industrialisation, and development-oriented learning.
“This is a revolutionary approach aimed at producing graduates equipped to drive industrial transformation and contribute meaningfully to national development,” Murwira added. However, he did not specify the number of scholarships to be awarded.
Minister Nduhungirehe praised the progress made since the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on educational exchange in 2021. “We have reviewed the implementation of previous agreements and are pleased with the outcomes so far,” he said.
Since October 2022, Rwanda has employed 157 Zimbabwean education professionals across various institutions. Currently, 135 of them serve in Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs), six work at the Rwanda TVET Board, 12 at Rwanda Polytechnic, and four at the University of Rwanda.
The scholarship offer is expected to further strengthen ties between Rwanda and Zimbabwe while expanding opportunities for knowledge sharing and academic growth.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.