Claudine Mpilampa

Rwandan educator who rebuilt the nation's education system post-genocide through innovative teacher training programs

Claudine Mpilampa (b. 1965) emerged as a transformative figure in Rwanda's education recovery after the 1994 genocide. As director of Rwanda Education Board (1997-2003), she pioneered the 'Teacher Mentorship Initiative' that trained 12,000 educators using mobile learning centers. Her 1998 Rebuilding Rwanda's Schools report outlined strategies still used today, including bilingual curriculum development for 1.2 million students. Mpilampa's 2000 'Girls First' campaign increased female enrollment from 38% to 62% in secondary schools through scholarships and gender-sensitive classroom policies. She established the National Institute of Education that produced Rwanda's first cohort of 500 female STEM teachers. Her 2002 partnership with UNICEF created radio-based education programs reaching 200,000+ children during school closures. Mpilampa's 1999 book Education for Reconciliation became a reference in post-conflict education strategies. She later advised South Sudan's education ministry, implementing similar mentorship models. Today, Rwanda's 70% female university enrollment rate reflects her lasting impact, recognized through the 2005 UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education.