As part of the programme to promote Learning Outcomes in Primary Education (LOPE) and to build on VVOB's Coaching school leadership (2013-2015) research project, VVOB has worked with the Rwanda Education Board to establish well-led Professional Learning Networks (PLN) for head teachers, in the aim of contributing to the sharing and building of knowledge among head teachers and changing and/or refining their practices and performance.
The initial goal was to establish a PLN in every district of Rwanda. To that end, 30 Sector Education Officers (SEO) went through a series of 4 four-day trainings on how to lead and coach PLNs for head teachers in their sector. In 2015, the number was increased to 120 SEOs, allowing 3 additional sectors per district to receive guidance on establishing well-led PLNs.
As PLNs have been set-up in the sectors, REB and VVOB have undertook regular field visits to the PLNs to monitor and evaluate SEOs progress and to assess learning and behaviour change among the sector’s head teachers.
Methodology
The overall approach was developed based on the knowledge that simply bringing professionals together doesn’t guarantee growth and development. Certain conditions are needed to foster a climate in which learning and changing opportunities can arise. The first and most important step in leading PLNs is therefore to ensure that all measures are taken to create a conducive climate.
The capacity development methods used focus on building on the Five standards for effective school leadership adapted by the Rwanda Education Board from the work of Leitwood et al.
Short describtion of practice
- The inner circle illustrates the core focus of leaders’ attention;
- The inner ring their core strategies;
- The outer ring the actions they take in support of these strategies.
The building of trust is an intrinsic part and embedded within each of the core strategies and an essential part of the actions in the outer ring.
Achievements
Currently 116 SEOs are organizing head teachers’ learning networks in their respective sectors, representing 28% of the total 416 SEOs in the country. The total outreach of the Professional Learning Networks is 962 Head Teachers, or 8 Head teachers per sector. In each of these PLNs, at least one head teacher is enrolled in the School Leadership certification programme.
A PLN magazine - Urunana rw’Abarezi – was launched to create a platform for sharing experiences on Professional Learning Networks and on effective school leadership and to document best practices in both. The PLN magazine is published by Rwanda Education Board with VVOB support and distributed freely to educational leaders across the country.
