Education Decentralization in Rwanda: a Case Study on the Role of Government and the Catholic Church in Two Secondary Schools in Nyarugenge District

The aim of this study was to explore the partnerships between Government, Catholic Church, school administration and parents in the new school decentralized dispensation. This study used interviews and documents analysis to answer the following research questions: (1) how do school committees exercise their powers and responsibilities?; (2) how do they work with school administration?; (3) how do the Catholic Church contributes to solve the managerial and/or professional issues and school needs? and; (4) how do the government and the Catholic Church collaborate for school development? The study discovered that school committees are eager to involve mostly in schools governance, and school financial management. Despite the Catholic Church financial support to schools decreased, it still mobilizes the community for school development, and contributes through charitable actions, and collect funds from FBOs. The study recommends to the government and the Catholic Church to collaborate more in building governance capacity of the school committees, and creating a friendly school environment that support schools? academic and financial performance for a comprehensive school development.