Featured Research: Quality Low-Cost Private Schools Towards Sustainability — Evidence from Rwanda's Eastern Province

By Dr. Edward Munyaburanga | Philippine Christian University, Graduate School of Education

Published in Global Research Insights and Perspectives, Vol. 4, Issue 1 | ISSN: 2984-9918

Quality Low-Cost Private Schools Towards Sustainability Framework: Evidence-Based Schools in Eastern Province, Rwanda

Abstract

This study examined the sustainability of quality low-cost private schools (LCPSs) in Rwanda's Eastern Province. It concluded that school leadership, teaching quality, learner performance, and income-generating activities significantly contribute to the sustainability of LCPSs. All four null hypotheses were rejected based on one-sample t-tests and stakeholder feedback. The findings reveal that effective school heads implement strategic non-fee income generation, teachers apply student-centered pedagogical approaches, and improved learner performance in national examinations is closely linked to instructional quality. Additionally, structured income-generating activities enhance financial resilience. The study recommends enhancing school leaders' fundraising capacity, institutionalizing continuous professional development for teachers, expanding income-generating initiatives, and developing a national sustainability framework to support quality and growth across Rwanda's LCPS sector.

Key Findings

• School leadership significantly drives non-fee income generation through partnerships, transparency, and fundraising.

• Student-centered pedagogy, curriculum-aligned lesson planning, and ICT integration are strongly linked to improved teaching quality (all indicators significant at p < 0.001).

• Learner performance in national examinations reflects the cumulative effect of quality leadership, teaching, and community engagement.

• Structured income-generating activities — including student participation — enhance financial resilience and reduce dependency on tuition alone.

Recommendations

• Enhance training in external resource mobilization for school heads.

• Develop comprehensive financial planning guidelines for LCPSs.

• Support school-based enterprise initiatives (gardens, rentals, vocational training).

• Promote ongoing teacher professional development and increase ICT integration in classrooms.

• Advocate for policy recognition of LCPSs within national education planning.

About the Author: Edward Munyaburanga is a researcher and social entrepreneur based in Rwanda, working across project management, education, research, consultancy, and economic development. He has founded schools recognized as benchmarks for quality primary education in Rwanda. This research was conducted under the supervision of Yolanda Penales, Ed.D, Philippine Christian University, Graduate School of Education.

Citation: Munyaburanga, E. (2026). Quality low-cost private schools towards sustainability framework: Evidence-based schools in Eastern Province, Rwanda. Global Research Insights and Perspectives, 4(1). ISSN: 2984-9918.