A section of parents and teachers have teamed up to open a new private primary school in Rwamagana District.

Victorious Academy was launched yesterday amidst pomp—as parents, teachers and pupils marched along the roads of Rwamagana town to music played by a brass band.

Business temporarily came to halt in the town, as residents abandoned work in shops and offices to watch the procession.

Victorious Academy, the first school owned by parents and teachers in the district, has been registering pupils for several months, but had not yet officially opened.

Jane Gahongayire, one of the parents and founders of the school said they were overwhelmed by the support from the community. "We started the idea when we were not more than five; but look—the numbers are now in hundreds. Several people have joined us, thus strengthened the realisation of our dream,” she said.

Gilbert Musonera, another parent said that the school had brought quality education nearer home. "Most districts in the country have good primary schools, this is our turn. I have been sending my children to schools in Kigali, but they will be back next year to start here. It was a sad reality that we had had to separate with our children, for the search of quality education,” he said.

Like Musonera, most financially able parents in Rwamagana have been taking their children to private schools in Kigali.

Bob Charles Musisi, an experienced infant teacher, who coordinates the school project, said the aim is to provide quality education to children from the community. He said that the school is recruiting qualified teachers for lower and upper primary.

"The difference is that, unlike most private schools, we will not go for money. This is purely an idea of the people—parents and teachers. We shall do most of the teaching ourselves…we are privileged to have the best teachers, specialised in teaching at this level,” he said.