Groundbreaking AI Teacher Training Program in Rwanda
August 5, 2025
Summary
Education leaders Day of AI and MIT RAISE proudly concluded a major milestone in global AI education this past week: a four-day national training in Rwanda for over 150 master teachers representing every district in the country. Led by Dr. Randi Williams, Head of Research at Day of AI, the training marked the start of an important national initiative to integrate artificial intelligence education into Rwanda’s primary and secondary school classrooms.
Developed in partnership with the Rwanda Ministry of Education and the Rwanda Education Board (REB), the Day of AI Rwanda program focused on equipping educators with the tools to incorporate AI into their existing ICT curriculum, preparing students not only to use AI but to think critically and
ethically about AI’s role in society.
“This was one of the most impactful, hopeful experiences I’ve had in this work,” said Dr. Williams. “The combined enthusiasm, curiosity, and leadership shown by these educators was nothing short of inspiring. Together, we’re planting the seeds of a generation that will understand, build, and lead with AI.”
Dr. Williams also credited Rwanda’s visionary commitment to AI literacy, recognizing the leadership of Minister of Education Joseph Nsengimana and the REB team, as well as the crucial support of the Ibrahim El Hefni Technical Training Foundation, which helped make the initiative possible.
Day of AI’s curriculum, developed by MIT researchers in partnership with K-12 educators, is freely available and used by educators in over 170 countries. This effort in Rwanda represents the largest coordinated national rollout of the program in Africa to date, with trained master educators now returning to their districts to ensure the training’s ripple effects are felt across the country.
“The launch of Day of AI Rwanda is not only a powerful moment for us,” said Professor Cynthia Breazeal, Director of the MIT RAISE Initiative, “but a model for how nations around the world can prioritize AI readiness in education with both vision and urgency.”
Reflections from Rwandan Education Leaders
Rwandan education leaders shared their observations at last week’s closing program.
Eden Mamo, Rwanda Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) on behalf of Minister Joseph
Nsengimana: “In completing this workshop, we are launching an AI journey for the nation, with education at the very heart of this journey. This moment aligns with Rwanda’s vision, Vision 2050, which calls for a knowledge economy empowered by innovation. Such an economy cannot be achieved unless our people, especially our youth, understand and own the tools of the future – tools like AI. That means not just using AI, but building with it, questioning it, and improving it. This initiative demonstrates that Rwanda has chosen to ride the AI wave consciously and ethically. I want to sincerely thank Dr. Randi and our partners at Day of AI and MIT RAISE for bringing their expertise to Rwanda and partnering with us in this exciting journey.”
Dr. Diane Segati, Rwanda Education Board Director of ICT: “We want AI to be used in all schools, by all students, by all teachers, and the whole nation. When we started with ICT, we started small. We thought it would be just Word and Excel. But now, we have integrated ICT [as a subject] in education, and we’re going to the next level with AI. We want to give a special thanks to MIT RAISE, Day of AI, and Dr. Randi that we really appreciate the support and look forward to continued support. I could feel the energy, the sense of collaboration, and curiosity to learn more. I can say confidently that we have gone beyond expectations. Now you are with us, and we will continue in this spirit.”