In Rwanda, professional development programmes for school leaders have been successful in promoting positive attitudes and behaviour changes. However, the biggest challenge has been whether or not these changes lead to improved learning outcomes. VVOB collaborated with a group of talented Jacobs Foundation and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) LEAP Fellows to further investigate the impact of continuous professional development (CPD) for school leaders on teaching and learning outcomes.
Leveraging Evidence for Action to Promote change (LEAP) is an initiative by the Jacobs Foundation and MIT Solve that brings together researchers, social entrepreneurs, and education ventures to advance evidence-based learning solutions that help children thrive.
VVOB and the Ministry of Education in Rwanda are collaborating to institutionalise continuous professional development for school leaders. The CPD programme aims to improve the competence and practices of headteachers, which in turn should enhance teacher performance and ultimately improve student learning outcomes. The results of this productive collaboration will help us gain a better understanding of the specific areas where the CPD programme is having a significant impact, as well as identify areas that may need to be adjusted in future iterations of the programme.
