School leaders play a key role in promoting girls’ education and motivating them to choose STEM subjects. Strengthening and promoting STEM subjects is a top priority for the government of Rwanda (Education Sector Strategic Plan, 2018/19 to 2023/24). The government’s aspiration to become a knowledge-based economy requires the development of scientific and technological skills across all levels of society, with a special focus on girls.
This story is featured in the Educational Leader Africa Magazine (June 2021) on pages 15-17. Read the magazine here.
Sister Marie Pelagie Umumararungu has been leading G.S Mater Dei, a secondary school located in Nyanza district, Southern province, for 12 years. This school was a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) school until 2007. It later became a general secondary school with science options, and Sister Umumararungu joined when it became a science school. She noticed that girls were still fearing science subjects at that time: science was “too difficult” and “meant for boys”. Sister Umumararungu was already committed to promoting girls’ education, and her participation in VVOB’s continuous professional development (CPD) training programme in Effective School Leadership boosted her dedication.
Motivating students to love science
Since she became a leader of G.S Mater Dei, Sister Umumararungu has been organising sessions with girls to explain the benefits of studying science, stressing the fact that “science is for everyone”. The school currently has 724 students in total, including 461 students in science subjects, 230 girls and 231 boys. She says: “I encourage girls that they can perform well in science if they are committed to it. I always tell them that science education is not meant for a specific gender. I want to challenge such baseless beliefs that only boys can do well in science subjects.”
Additionally, Sister Umumararungu explains to students the application of science in real life, by showing them how scientific knowledge can help to solve practical problems. “You can create and discover, you can become a pilot if you study mathematics and physics, you can become a medical doctor….” Sister Umumararungu tells the students.
Sister Umumararungu is so excited that one of the female students from her school became a pilot. “It is so motivating to realise that your advice and encouragement has inspired someone to achieve their dreams,” she said.
Inspiring training programme
When Sister Umumararungu attended VVOB’s CPD training course in Effective School Leadership, she understood the relevance of promoting girls’ education in a clearer and broader way. “I thought I knew it well as I was doing it. However, I realised that I needed more insights. I was already promoting girls’ education in a particular way, by encouraging them to choose science subjects and trying to make sure they do not lag behind, but I was doing it with some hesitation and would feel that I was being too “pushy”. After participating in a training offered by VVOB, I realised that encouraging girls and including them in STEM is the right thing to do. I learnt that challenging the biases and stereotypes that prevent women and girls from pursuing science careers should be everyone’s responsibility.”
VVOB has been implementing a five-year programme, Leading, Teaching and Learning Together (LTLT) in primary and secondary schools since 2017, in partnership with the University of Rwanda – College of Education and Rwanda Basic Education Board. Through this programme, VVOB and its partners have been delivering certificate and diploma courses for system and school-based leaders and provide opportunities for school leaders to encourage one another in supportive professional learning communities. A diploma course in Effective School Leadership equips head teachers and deputy head teachers with the competences to fulfil their roles as school leaders. A certificate course in Educational Mentorship and Coaching is offered to school based mentors and school subject leaders in STEM, to equip them with effective tools and skills to facilitate professional development activities in schools. At the same time, District Education Directors and Officers, and Sector Education Inspectors receive the same certificate course which equips them with the competences to coach school leaders effectively, and to initiate and sustain professional learning communities of school leaders.
In secondary education, these programmes are part of the Mastercard Foundation’s Leaders in Teaching initiative. Leaders in Teaching is an initiative that transforms teaching and learning in secondary education across Africa so young people have the skills and competencies they need to succeed in work and life.
Contribution of female school alumnae
Learning about female students who studied at G.S Mater Dei and have become successful in life like the pilot, motivates other students, and makes them dream big. That’s why some former students are invited to come back to their school and talk to students.
Sister Umumararungu: “When a former student asks me to come here to talk to students, I welcome them happily! For instance, a group of former students visited our school and shared testimonies about their education journey and achievements with our students. In addition, they donated science books to support their ‘younger brothers and sisters’, especially girls already in science options, as well as those in lower secondary aspiring to study science subjects in future. We managed to establish a small and ‘special’ library with those books.”
Encouraging best performing girls
Sister Umumararungu organises events to recognise the best performing students, especially girls, and reward them publicly—an opportunity to encourage and motivate other girls to choose science subjects. For instance, in 2017 the best performing student in national secondary school leaving examinations in mathematics and physics subjects was a girl from our school. In 2019, the top student in the end-of-year examinations at this school was a girl. In addition, one of the best female students from this school was selected by the Ministry of Education through Rwanda Basic Education Board to attend a one-month science training in the United States along with other science students from different schools. Sister Umumararungu appreciated those students before their colleagues. She believes this motivates other girls as well as boys to work hard.
At the same time, when girls have not performed well in exams, Sister Umumararungu also organises sessions to talk to them to find out what made them perform poorly and discuss solutions together.
Dealing with fear of science subjects
Science competitions are usually organised at district, provincial and national levels on a regular basis. “I know some head teachers prioritise boys, but I make sure girls are not left behind,” Sister Umumararungu noted. She realised that some girls fear such kind of competitions thinking that they cannot compete with boys. So, she encourages them to participate in these competitions in order “to build their self-esteem and confidence”.
Sister Umumararungu also supports science teachers to organise and facilitate debates on science topics among students. According to her, this allows students to increase scientific knowledge and uplift their confidence as well. Students are also grouped in science clubs in which they are encouraged to conduct science experiments and learn from each other. “We want to stimulate their interest and motivation in science. We noticed that most students have curiosity to discover”.
In addition, the school organises science experiments such as making soaps, during School General Assembly events. On such occasions, Sister Umumararungu also encourages girls to participate not only to reinforce their confidence, but also to allow parents to have an idea of what their children have learnt.
