Africa-Press – Rwanda. Rwanda Coding Academy (RCA) Capacity Development Project has received a financial boost worth US$ 7.1 million (approximately Frw 7.1 billion) from Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)
From the funds, Rwanda Coding Academy will receive a boost in terms of high-quality infrastructure and equipment as well as capacity to provide specialized education programs to students. It will ultimately benefit the students who are at the heart of RCA’s mission and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goal 4; Education for All.
The event was virtually held due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Record of Discussion was signed by Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Valentine Uwamariya, Minister of Education and Mr. Chon Gyong Shik the Country Director of KOICA Rwanda Office.
In his remarks, Dr. Ndagijimana said, “We thank the Government of the Republic of Korea for partnering with us in this important project to enhance software skills development in Rwanda. This aid comes to support our National Strategy for Transformation Pillar, with a focus on making Rwanda a Globally Competitive Knowledge based Economy.’’
On the other hand, Minister Uwamariya noted that: “This project will make Rwanda Coding Academy a centre of excellence in Software Development which will be providing our students with high quality practical skills as required by the software industry at both national and international level, and this will hugely contribute to the national aspiration of making our country a regional ICT hub”.
“KOICA gives priority to three sectors in Rwanda and these are agriculture, education, and ICT, and this particular project cuts across the two important sectors, education and ICT,” Mr. Chon Gyong Shik, Country Director of KOICA Rwanda Office said.
“As the main development agency of the Korean government, this project will contribute to the Government of Rwanda’s education and economic development plans as well as the achievement of SDG 4,” he went on to say.
Since its establishment in 2019, with an aim of developing competent software developers who can promote industrial and economic development of the country, the school has accepted two intakes of students bringing the total to 118. The third intake is slated for September this year.
The KOICA Rwanda Office has been in Rwanda since 2011 and the agency currently has over 10 on-going projects in Rwanda in education, agriculture and ICT sectors. With the outbreak ofCOVID-19, KOICA has supported Government’s efforts in fighting the pandemic by providing a mobile testing vehicle, walk-through testing booths and personal protective equipment (PPE) worth about US$ 1million.
