- For decades Rwanda has been one of the Francophone countries in Africa where the language of instruction in education, business, power, and civilization was French.
- In 2009, the English language became the sole language used as a medium of instruction at all levels of education.
- This new move made most of teachers at all levels face serious challenges to teach in English because their English proficiency was poor.
- ATER was born in 2009 to reinforce the teaching, learning and use of English language in Rwanda, and it was granted legal status on December 6, 2011.