Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) has promised to reform the procurement and distribution of school textbooks after lawmakers questioned delays that left some students without learning materials for up to two academic years.
The pledge came Monday during a hearing of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Officials from the Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB) and the ministry were responding to findings in the Auditor General’s report for the financial year ending June 30, 2025.
The report found major delays in approving, printing and distributing textbooks. Some artwork approvals took more than 200 days. Printing was delayed by as much as 372 days.
Lawmakers said the delays disrupted learning and left teachers without essential teaching materials. They also questioned why a contractor failed to deliver 396,000 textbooks to schools on time. During a committee inspection, the books were still in storage even though transport costs had already been paid.
“How are children expected to learn without textbooks?” PAC Vice Chairperson Cecile Murumunawabo said. She criticized repeated contract extensions while schools continued to wait for the books.
REB Director General Nelson Mbarushimana said the agency carries out detailed quality checks before approving textbooks for printing. He said specialists review illustrations, layout, readability and spelling to ensure the books meet required standards.
Officials also blamed delays in nursing, midwifery and accounting textbooks on curriculum changes and high production costs. REB said only seven schools offered nursing and midwifery programs, with about 210 students enrolled, making the books more expensive to produce.
Lawmakers argued that quality assurance should not delay classroom learning. They said students should not complete school terms without the textbooks they need.
Permanent Secretary Charles Karakye acknowledged weaknesses in planning. He said MINEDUC had agreed on reforms to improve textbook procurement and distribution. He said the changes are expected to ensure textbooks reach schools on time during the current financial year.
