Rwanda’s push to become a continental tech powerhouse just took a decisive step forward. The country has formally accredited its first-ever private coding academy, a move expected to accelerate the nation’s pipeline of homegrown software engineers and AI innovators.
The New Generation Academy (NGA), based in the heart of Kigali’s Kimihurura district, has secured government approval to offer specialised training in software programming and embedded systems — skills driving everything from smartphones to autonomous vehicles.
This makes NGA the only private school in Rwanda authorised to run the country’s premier coding programme, a milestone many see as crucial to scaling Rwanda’s digital economy.
“Due to limited slots at the Rwanda Coding Academy (RCA), many talented students — especially those in international curricula — have been missing out,” said Jean-Claude Tuyisenge, NGA’s founder and managing director.
“This new accreditation opens doors for them and brings us closer to the vision of a truly digital Rwanda.”
A Timely Boost to Rwanda’s Digital Vision
The move complements the government-run Rwanda Coding Academy, which pioneered specialised tech education in the country but has been unable to keep pace with soaring demand.
NGA’s entry effectively doubles the capacity to train the next generation of coders, easing a bottleneck that has frustrated students and employers alike.
Tuyisenge calls the approval “a milestone not just for the academy, but for Rwanda’s broader ambition to lead in technology and innovation across the region.”
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Nurturing Tech Talent From the Ground Up
NGA isn’t a newcomer to tech-driven education. The private day school spans nursery to secondary levels and has long integrated coding, robotics, and STEM learning into its curriculum — with a hands-on approach that encourages children to learn by building, not just by memorising.
That philosophy caught international attention last November, when a high-profile delegation from the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), UNESCO, and Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT & Innovation visited NGA as part of Rwanda’s designation as the first IOAI hub in Africa.
During the visit, students as young as 12 demonstrated AI-powered robots, drones, and smart traffic-light systems, showcasing the school’s ability to translate abstract code into real-world solutions.
AI and Coding, From Classrooms to Careers
With the new government-accredited trade programme, NGA plans to take that early exposure further — preparing students for globally competitive careers in software programming and embedded systems, the technology behind IoT devices, robotics, and automated machinery.
Crucially, the school is recruiting instructors with real-world industry experience, ensuring that lessons stay project-driven and relevant to market demands.
Graduates will be ready not just for university but also to step directly into jobs that require high-level coding skills.
Aligning With Rwanda’s Tech-First Agenda
Rwanda has set an ambitious goal: to become a regional hub for innovation and digital transformation.
By expanding access to quality tech education, NGA’s programme is expected to help reduce reliance on foreign expertise and fuel homegrown startups and entrepreneurs.
“This is how we build a talent pipeline that can design African solutions for African challenges — and compete on a global scale,” said Tuyisenge.
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A Signal to the Continent
As African countries race to build skilled workforces for the digital age, Rwanda’s bold experiment in formalising coding as a trade — now with both public and private players — offers a model for scaling technical education.
It underscores a larger shift: the future of work is being coded in classrooms, and the nations investing early in that pipeline will lead tomorrow’s innovation economy.
