Rwanda has launched a Coding Academy on the 22nd of February 2019, in Nyabihu District. This launch is in line with the efforts made to address the shortage of high caliber software experts in the Rwandan market. The academy will specialize in Software programming, embedded systems and cyber security. The academy is part of Nyabihu Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
According to the statement from the education ministry “Rwanda Coding Academy opened its doors for the first time earlier this month starting with 30 girls and 30 boys who were among the top performers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects in last year’s O’ Level National Exams. This model school will graduate its students in a period of 3 years attended by students who are ‘Born to Code’ determined to pursue a life-time coding career at an early age to emerge as global software engineers.”
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The Academy aligns with the recommendations of the ‘Rwanda Digital Talent Policy’ as approved by the Cabinet in April 2018. The “Digital Talent Policy” is an initiative to strengthen a framework of ICT training and qualification in Rwanda, while placing emphasis on hands-on and market-oriented ICT skills. The policy seeks to precisely introduce software programming to learners at elementary levels, to address current shortages of software developers on market.
The Nyabihu TVET School will also train young Rwandans from across the country in four trades that respond to the labor market needs namely; culinary art, food processing, welding, and leather craft.