Plan International Rwanda has officially handed over a centre of excellence school to Gatsibo District.

The school, worth over Rwf445 million in Kabarore Sector, was inaugurated on Monday at a function attended by local residents and education officials.

It has capacity for 540 students with about 200 in boarding section.

The school has 12 classrooms and dormitories that can accommodate about 200 students, toilets with a section for students with disabilities, a multipurpose hall, office block, library, laboratory, playing ground and computer room.

The classrooms and dormitories were furnished with chairs, desks and beds for students.

Ezekiel Rukema, an official of Plan International Rwanda, said the school needed more equipment to facilitate science teaching.

"We have handed over the school to the district but we shall continue supporting it. We want to turn it into a centre of excellence,” he said.

Rukema requested the district officials to allow students from vulnerable communities to join the school.Gatsibo provided over 4.5 hectares of land and paid Rwf70 million as compensation to the former owners of the land on which the school was built.

District mayor Ambrose Ruboneza said the school was also availed with water.

"What we still lack is electricity, we appeal to concerned authorities to connect the school to the national grid,” Ruboneza said.

He said the school would offer an opportunity to students who had hitherto moved to other areas in search of science schools.

"We are happy this school will offer science subjects. Our children have been moving to far away places in search for schools offering science disciplines,” Ruboneza said.

Meanwhile, the new school has left businesses upbeat.

George Mugisha, a resident, said the area was formerly an unutilised bush, adding that it will now be a source of knowledge and income.

"We are not only happy that our children will get quality education, but also expect to earn money as businesses.

The population will increase to allow us supply food items to the school,” he said.

Stakeholders are commited to seeing the school operate by January next year.