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

3. 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.

4. 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

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

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

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

8. 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.

9. 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):