Rwanda Invests $12.4M to Expand Education for Children with Disabilities

The Rwandan government will invest Rwf24.8 billion (approximately $12.4 million USD) through 2029 to improve access to education for children with disabilities. The plan focuses on establishing five new special needs schools, one in each province and Kigali City, to support children with autism and cognitive disabilities.

An additional Rwf3.75 billion will fund resource and assessment centers, while Rwf2.40 billion will support inclusive education initiatives. The investment comes after a study by the African Child Policy Forum and CLADHO revealed that children with disabilities face significant barriers to education, including a lack of accessible infrastructure, limited teacher training, and societal stigma.

Currently, only 0.9 percent of Rwanda’s 4.16 million learners have a recorded disability, with even fewer enrolled in pre-primary education. Officials aim to increase primary school enrollment of children with disabilities from 31,751 to 80,323 by 2028/29. The government also plans to subsidize school fees and expand teacher training programs to better support inclusive learning environments.