REB Approves 900 Storybooks for Primary Schools

The storybooks are the result of a public tender released in April, which called for submissions of storybooks, flash cards, alphabet charts, and audio stories for primary school as well as textbooks for secondary school. The approved storybooks are classified into 21 reading levels, gradually increasing in difficulty and complexity. The majority of the approved storybooks are in Kinyarwanda, with over 200 titles available, a significant increase from the previous number. The majority of Kinyarwanda storybooks are for primary grades 1 to 3, providing support for beginning readers at the earliest stages of their literacy development. The storybooks are designed to match the reading levels of children, allowing them to develop confidence in their reading abilities and become successful readers. The storybooks were independently evaluated by three education specialists according to technical specifications provided by Norma Evans, Technical Director of the USAID-funded Literacy, Language, and Learning (L3) Initiative. Only books that met the technical criteria were placed on the approved list, ensuring that schools will have access to high-quality reading materials. The approved storybooks will be delivered to schools across the country, with schools expected to receive their orders by March of the following year. The Rwanda Education Board is urging teachers to allow children to take the storybooks home, as this is seen as a key factor in improving reading skills. Anathalie Nyirandagijimana, a specialist in pedagogical norms at REB, notes that sometimes books are kept in stores and do not reach the children who need them. By distributing the storybooks to children, REB hopes to improve the reading skills of learners across the country. The approval of the 900 storybooks is a significant step forward in improving literacy rates in Rwanda. The storybooks are designed to support the development of reading skills in children, and their availability will provide schools with a wide range of high-quality reading materials. The Rwanda Education Board's efforts to improve literacy rates are being supported by the USAID-funded L3 Initiative, which aims to improve literacy and learning outcomes in Rwanda.