Rwanda’s juvenile prison prioritizes education for rehabilitation
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In Rwanda, young inmates at Nyagatare Juvenile Correctional Facility are receiving education and vocational training as part of their rehabilitation.
The facility focuses on providing a supportive environment where incarcerated youth, many with interrupted or incomplete schooling, can continue their education. Eighteen-year-old Jean Baptiste Nahimana, sentenced for drug-related offences after dropping out of school in Primary Five, recently completed his Ordinary Level (O'Level) studies and will begin Advanced Level (A'Level) courses in mathematics, physics, economics and geography.
Nahimana describes arriving at the facility feeling hopeless, but credits the education program with giving him a second chance and helping him understand the consequences of his actions. Teachers at the facility are fellow inmates who hold university degrees and deliver the national competency-based curriculum. The program extends beyond academics to include practical skills training in carpentry, masonry, tailoring, welding, weaving and electrical work. Currently, Nyagatare Juvenile Correctional Facility houses 515 young inmates.
Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) officials emphasize the importance of education as a right for these children and a way to prevent double punishment. In recent examinations, 11 students passed one set of tests, and all 17 O'Level candidates succeeded, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness. Nahimana hopes to attend university after completing his sentence and contribute to Rwanda’s socio-economic development.
