Partnership for Inclusive Care
and Education in Africa
Address: P.O.BoX 2385 KIGALI, Rwanda
Call us:
+250 784 184 181
E-mail us:
info@pace_africa.org
Partnership for Inclusive Care
and Education in Africa
Address: P.O.BoX 2385 KIGALI, Rwanda
Call us:
+250 784 184 181
E-mail us:
info@pace_africa.org
Access to Education Program
Realizing street children’s right to education
The universal right to education has a solid basis in international law and is a key component of the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda and Rwanda’s Development Blueprints including the current NST2, centered on leaving no one behind. The goal to get all children, adolescents and youth into education by 2029 has seen rising national enrolment rates reach 94.7% in 2025. While the net enrollment rate focuses on children of the correct age, the gross enrollment rate (which includes all students regardless of age) is even higher, at 137.5%. This indicates that Rwanda has a significant number of older students enrolled in primary school, possibly due to past challenges with access to education.
The transition rate from primary to lower secondary education has also seen a positive increase, reaching 71.6%. Despite this commendable progress, street children are at risk of being left behind. The numerous societal, practical and health barriers street children face means they are among the millions of the world’s hardest-to-reach children who are unable to attend mainstream schools and face high drop-out rates from formal education programs.
When data on enrolment rates are gathered, street children not enrolled in school are often not included – as most of the data is gathered through household surveys. This means they are neither part of the 94.7% of children in primary school, nor part of the 5.3% of children not in primary school – they remain invisible altogether.
Allowing street children to be left behind from efforts improving access to education will only perpetuate their cycle of poverty and the countless human rights violations they face on the streets every day. Providing them with access to education can not only provide safe spaces and security whilst they are on the streets, but also opportunities to move away from the streets and go on to lead happy and healthy adult lives.
Through this programme, PACE AFRICA undertakes activities that ensure street children no longer remain invisible, and are able to benefit from the efforts towards inclusive and quality education for all. Ensuring they are included in data collection on access to education and progress towards SDG 4 is key in achieving this, as is sharing existing evidence and information on street children’s barriers to education, and best practices in overcoming these barriers.
Realizing access to quality education for children from poor families
Regardless of location, culture, or material circumstances, many parents around the world desire to give their children the opportunities they couldn’t access themselves. Gaining access to quality education is a key part of that journey.
But families in poverty face additional barriers to accessing better education.
When resources are limited, school expenses often must be deprioritized for more essential basics like food, clothing, health insurance, housing repairs, or emergencies. And even when resources are available, the nearest school could be far away and the added expense of getting there pushes it just out of reach. Even if schools are within families’ physical and financial reach, the education quality might be low, leading parents to wonder if it is worth the investment.
PACE AFRICA works with local government authorities and faith based organizations to identify children from poor families but who demonstrate potential in schools and accompany them in their education journey right from primary school to tertiary level. Means of support include a scholarship scheme, assistance with school materials and other education essentials that pupils and students need in their schooling journey.