Kigali, 2nd September 2021: The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the Ministry of Education signed a Record of Discussion (RD) with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) for the implementation of the Rwanda Coding Academy (RCA) Capacity Development Project.

In this 5-year (2021-2025) project valued at USD 7.1 million, KOICA will build a new Rwanda Coding Academy campus in Nyabihu District and provide technical assistance as well as various training programs to stakeholders, including students, instructors, and school managers.

The signing ceremony was virtually held in observance of the current health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the Record of Discussion was signed by Dr. Uzziel NDAGIJIMANA, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Valentine UWAMARIYA, Minister of Education, and Mr. CHON Gyong Shik, Country Director of KOICA Rwanda Office. 

“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 support comes to support our National Strategy for Transformation Pillar, with a focus on making Rwanda a Globally Competitive Knowledge-based Economy”, Minister NDAGIJIMANA said

Minister Uwamariya noted that: “This project will make Rwanda Coding Academy a center 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 has three priority sectors in Rwanda, agriculture, education, and ICT, and this project cuts across the two important sectors, education and ICT,” said Mr. CHON Gyong Shik, Country Director of KOICA Rwanda Office. “As the main development agency of the Korean government, through this project, we will contribute to the GoR's education and economic development plans as well as the achievement of SDG 4.” 

RCA opened in 2019 with a special mission to train young talented and gifted Rwandans in software programming, promote quality and excellence in coding skills, and position Rwanda as a software development talent hub. Since its establishment, the school has accepted two intakes of students totaling 118. The third intake is slated for September this year. 

With KOICA's support, RCA will be equipped with high quality infrastructure and equipment as well as the 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.