On 29 April 2023, a group of 13 officials from Rwanda Development Board (RDB) have completed six modules in ICDL that will help them be conversant with the tiered programme in computer literacy, be more productive and speed up their daily work. They will be also able to solve some IT problems on their own without running after IT people.

The training took place at RMI Headquarters at Murambi Campus

Lessons include, preliminaries in Computer (hard and softwares), Microsoft word (document), Microsoft Excel (spreadsheet), Microsoft PPT (in other words presentation), Online Collaboration (how we use all the tools to collaborate with others in the world using internet) and Cyber Security (data storage and information security).

In his closing remarks, on behalf of RMI leadership, TWAGIRUMUKIZAWilly, the facilitator urged participants to start utilizing the knowledge gained for not forgetting it. “The knowledge you have got here is important it is better to start using it so that you don't forget it. If you don't use it daily you will not improve, you will rather forget it”, he urged them. “The knowledge is useful for you because from today, you will be able to deliver efficiently and even help others at work”, he told them.

MUTUYEYEZU Alexandre, a trainee, said that the knowledge he has got will help him be productive. “Now if I need to create a link I will directly go to google and be able to do it easily without waiting from other’s help". “Now, I know how to make smart presentation using PPT with transitions and animations, etc.”

MUSHONGANONO Olive said that the training will enhance her performance on how to use ICT tools in her day to day work.

“Learning is something continuous; this therefore, certifies somebody who has gone through ICDL modules. Even if we have been working we have learned some other additions that we didn’t know before and we are sure the knowledge will enhance and improve our capacities of doing our assignments at work. “ Also, the institution will benefit from more  fine activities, fine work by understanding how to put at best the data we use on a day to day functions and how best we collaborate online as compared on how we used to do before”, she testified.

ICDL program gives candidates the flexibility and freedom to acquire digital skills and confidently apply them in any software environment wherever they may need to use it. ICDL course was designed to build critical digital skills of the modern workplace. ICDL is a six modules that will help employees use technology efficiently and increasing people's knowledge.

The government policy has in its plan to teach ICDL to all public servants. Also, there is a large program to train young children in primary schools through one laptop per child programme, and in general, digital citizen that will be helped by digital ambassadors to use technology.

The course was organized by RDB in partnership with RMI as a training institution mandated of offering capacity building interventions through trainings, research, consultancies and policy advisory services in Rwanda.