< style="font-family: times new roman,serif;">
Single Point of Contact:
Mr. Pheneas Nkundabakura
Address:
Kigali Institute of Education (KIE)
P.O. Box 5039
Kigali
RWANDA
Phone: +27834360578
Fax: +27 51 401 35 07
E-mail:nkundapheneas@yahoo.fr:
URL: www.kie.ac.rw
About IYA2009:
Rwanda is joining the World scientific community in the celebration of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009). Although Astronomy is not developed in the country, the IYA 2009 will be an occasion to sensitize the Rwandan community at all levels on astronomy and its contributions to society and culture in general, and in particular to Science.
With the IYA2009 the World will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first use of the telescope for astronomical observations by Galileo Galilei (Italy) in 1609 which leads to his discovery of the four largest satellites of Jupiter, named the Galilean moons in his honour.
Activities:
In Rwanda, activities will take place at three levels: locally (at a district level) , regionally (at provincial level ) and nationally.
A temporarily committee to prepare activities for 2009 is already operational. This committee is working together with its counterpart from Uganda. This committee intends to mobilize all actors of Astronomy (existent and/or potential) in the country. In this context, the committee is preparing a workshop (see Meetings of the preparation of the IYA 2009:link, link, link,link) in which participants from the all regions of the country will be informed about the IYA2009 and its plan. Click here link to see the project proposal of the workshop. It is in that workshop that the national structure for the IYA 2009 activities will be formed.
Situation of Astronomy in Rwanda.
Website: http://Rwanda.Iya2009.googlepages.com/home
------------------------------------------------------
1.Professional (Research) Astronomy:
(i) Number of universities offering Astronomy (and their names)
Some statistics in Education sector in Rwanda
Primary School
2172 School
1,636,563 Pupils
26,024 Teachers
(Statistics of 2002/03)
Secondary Schools,
The teaching language is English or French.
405 Schools
179,153 Pupils
6,329 Teachers
(Statistics 2005/06)
Tertiary education
There are 20 high education institutes (6 Public / 14 Private). The first university in Rwanda (National University of Rwanda - NUR) was opened by the government in 1963. The number of students enrolled at high education institution are about 26,796 [2006](39% of students are female).
About astronomy:
- Before 1994, “Elements of Astronomy” and “Special relativity” were taught the National University of Rwanda.
-These days only “Special relativity” is part of the physics curriculum at Universities or Institutes who have a physics department.
(ii) Number of universities offering Physics (and their names)
1.National University of Rwanda [NUR](www.nur.ac.rw)
2.Kigali Institute of Science and Technology[KIST](www.kist.ac.rw)
3.Kigali Institute of Education [KIE](www.kie.ac.rw)?
4.Adventist University of Central Africa [UAAC]
5.Higher Agriculture and Veterinary Institute [ISAE](www.isae.ac.rw)
6. Kibungo University of Agriculture, Technology and Education [UNATEK],
7. Institute of Higher learning of Ruhengeri [INES] (www.ines.ac.rw
(iii)Number of academics who have been trained in Astronomy (ideally with their names and levels of qualification)
1) Pheneas Nkundabakura, PhD student, Astrophysics, University of the Free State. ( email: nkundapheneas@yahoo.fr)
2) Jean Uwamahoro, MSc student (Ionospheric physics), University of Rhodes . (email: uwamahorojean@yahoo.fr)
3) Jean Claude Kubwimana, Msc Student, Cosmology, University of Cape Town (email: johnclaukub@yahoo.fr)
4)Francois Nsengiyumva , Honours student, Astrophysics, University of Cape Town (email: nsengaf2000@yahoo.fr)
(iv) Number of astronomical facilities (observatories, telescopes, etc) and as much detail about each as possible (websites/contact details)
No Observatory , No planetarium, No Science Center, No telescope
(v) Self evaluation (according to the different phases above, how would you rate your country in terms of Professional Astronomy
“Phase 3”
Although Rwanda doesn't have a strong astronomy community, it is currently showing strong potential in the form of astronomy/astrophysics and related Sciences people in training who are in training and who are willing to drive the development of astronomy in the future in the country.
2. Public Understanding of Astronomy:
(i) What governmental astronomy/science outreach programmes for the public take place (co-ordinated either by government departments or national facilities)
None
(ii) What non-governmental astronomy/science outreach programmes for the public take place (NGO activities or international programmes that your country is involved in).
None
(iii) Comment on the presence of astronomy in the media (TV, radio, newspapers). Is it very prominent? Are there specific programmes on astronomy? Is the media generally willing to publish news on astronomy?
- No specific programs for astronomy outreach on TV or radio in Rwanda.
- Specific events like eclipses can be highlighted by the National Radio when journalists are informed in advance.
(iv) Comment on the presence of astronomy/science in the general culture of the people. Are there any specific challenges or setbacks? Is astronomy a welcome subject of conversation?
-Astronomy is not often discussed as it is at the village. However people are very interested when listening to an astronomer.
(v) Self evaluation (according to the different phases above, how would you rate your country in terms of Public Understanding of Astronomy?
“Phase 3”
---------------------------------------------------------
3.Astronomy in Schools:
(i) What governmental astronomy/science education and outreach programmes for schools take place (co-ordinated either by government departments or national facilities)
None
(ii) What non-governmental astronomy/science education and outreach programmes for schools take place (NGO activities or international programmes that your country is involved in)
(iii) Comment on the presence of astronomy in the school curriculum. Is it part of the school curriculum? Is it very prominent? What age groups?
1)The earth as part of solar system taught in Geography in relation to earth’s climate in primary and secondary schools.
2)An introduction to Astronomy is taught as a chapter in the first year course of Physical Geography at Kigali institute of Education. There is a need of introducing astronomy curricula in secondary schools and at the university level in the future.
(iv) Comment on the status of astronomy/science in schools. Are there any specific challenges or setbacks? Sufficient number of students studying maths and science? General interest in maths/science/astronomy in schools?
There is a sufficient number of students doing Sciences an Maths at all levels of Education. For the implementation of Astronomy in the education system we need teachers well trained in astronomy and a reasonable astronomy infrastructure (telescopes, planetariums, science centers...)
(v) Self evaluation (according to the different phases above, how would you rate your country in terms of Astronomy in School?
“Phase 3”
4.Any other general comments or information that you feel would be useful for this survey?
Developing Astronomy in Rwanda: Vision, Mission, Objectives and actions
Taking the current state of astronomy in RWANDA into account, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) could/ should help over the next 10 years in terms of developing astronomy the following:
A.Vision
Developing astronomy in Rwanda will pass through:
1. Building the astronomy community in the country (build and support human resources).
2. Building the astronomical infrastructures
B.Missions
This vision will be realized through the two following missions:
i. Teaching astronomy and show its interest in schools and Universities
ii. Awareness and increase of the knowledge of astronomy in the public
C.Objectives:
The teaching astronomy in schools and universities will be done through:
i. Educational Resource Development (including astronomy Curricula) and Distribution
ii. Promotion and encouragement of post-graduate studies
iii. Equipping Universities and schools with necessary infrastructure and resources
The awareness and increase of the knowledge of astronomy in the public will be done through:
i. Public Resource Development and Distribution
ii. Public programmes and astronomical events
D.ACTIONS:
1. Teaching astronomy
1.1.Educational Resource Development
-Distribution of astronomy resources for educators and learners (books, posters, movies, DVDs, …)[2009]
-Develop astronomy curricula at all level of education.[2011]
-Open a department of Astronomy at least in one of the high institutions of learning [2012]
-Build a big optical telescope for research[2013]
1.2.Promotion and encouragement of post-graduate studies in astronomy and related subjects.
Post-graduates bursaries in astronomy and related sciences. [At least 2 bursaries per year]
1.3 Equipping universities and schools with necessary infrastructure
-Each university or tertiary institution of high Education (20 high institution : 6 public and 14 private) will be equipped with a small (displaceable) telescope
Primary (2172 primary schools) and secondary (504 secondary schools) schools will receive very small telescopes like. gallileoscopes, binoculars,[2009]
2. Awareness and increase of knowledge of astronomy in the public
-Distribution Public Resource Development:
Construct and equip a planetarium (stellarium) with a science center in the capital city of Rwanda.[2009]
-Public programmes and events:
Small Telescopes which can be used for watching night/day skies, eclipses … for the public.[2009]
------------------------------------------------------(This page is still under construction. Last update: 30.04.2008 at 19:00)