Pamela Abbott September 2017 Education at Our School is not Free: The Hidden Costs of Fee Free Education in Rwanda Pamela Abbott September 2017

Rwanda Least Developed Country Aid dependent – 13.4% GNI in 2015 39% population live in poverty (46.4% under 16s) 95.7% 7-16 years ever attended school 90.3% 7-16 years attended school in 12 months prior to survey 44% of 16 year olds /57.8% 19 year olds completed primary school 5% of 16 year olds completed junior secondary/20% of 19 year olds 1.3% of 19 year olds completed senior secondary school.

Education System in Rwanda 12 year basic education (7-19 years) Primary education legal requirement under 2003 Constitution Labour Law prohibits children under 16 years being employed even as family workers Fee free primary education introduced in 2003 Fee free 9 year basic education introduced in 2009 Fee free 12 year basic education introduced in 2012 Primary schools, junior secondary schools, senior secondary schools 4% of children attend private schools

Making your way through school – highest class completed by 19 year olds in 2013/14

School expenses paid for children in state or voluntary schools in 2013/4 (7-19 years)

School expenses paid for children in state or voluntary secondary schools in 2013/4

Impact of costs of schooling – Qualitiative Research Findings Households prioritise children’s education – even to extent of not spending on food. Children are sent home from school because their parents have not paid parental contributions even though these contributions are supposed to be voluntary. Children whose parents are unable to pay fees for additional coaching are at serious risk of failing examinations. Children are excluded from examinations if they are unable to pay the fees on time.

Article Williams, T. P., Abbott, P and Mupenzi, A. (2015). ‘Education at our school is not free’: the hidden costs of fee-free schooling in Rwanda. Compare 45(6): 931-952.