There is need for parents and schools to work together to enhance education quality, the State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Olivier Rwamukwaya, has said.

Rwamukwaya was on Tuesday speaking at the inauguration of a dormitory at Lycée Notre Dame de Citeaux in Kigali that was constructed with collaboration of parents and the school.

The dormitory, worth more than Rwf410 million, attests to the power of self-reliance, officials said.

Rwamukwaya said every Rwandan should embrace the culture of self-reliance by finding solutions to existing challenges.

"We should find solutions through our own efforts. Sometimes people think that finding solutions to our own problems is a distant dream but this inauguration is one of the signs to prove that where there is a will, there is also a way,” he said.

The minister commended parents for their collaboration with the school to advance the education of their children.

"Quality education combines various elements including modern infrastructure, qualified teachers, safe environment, and discipline of students among others. The new dormitory we inaugurated today is among those elements,” he added.

Rwamukwaya urged parents associations and schools to take the lead in constructing dormitories, saying the ministry has no budget for such infrastructure.

"Other schools countrywide should emulate Lycée Notre Dame de Citeaux. This helps the ministry to allocate funding for dormitories to other activities. The quality of education we are striving for needs intervention of parents and heads of schools,” he said.

Sister Helene Nayituriki, the head teacher of the girls’ school, commended all those who worked tirelessly to have a complete modern dormitory.

"I thank God who gave the parents the heart of love. The dormitory that will accommodate Rwandan girls was built out of love of parents. It was not easy to convince parents that this was possible from scratch. But after discussing the plan with parents they embraced the idea,” she said.

"Everyone tried their best and we now believe that together everything is possible. We have learnt to find solutions to our problems without waiting for foreign support.”

Senator Chrisologue Karangwa, on behalf of parents, called on the public to play their role in the education of Rwandan children.

He also urged students not to take such achievements for granted, but to work hard so that they can give back significantly to the community and country as well.

Commending parents and the school, Liza Ineza, a student representative, said the new facility will help especially day students get accommodation at school.

"Some students used to move several kilometers to reach school and back home. They faced many risks on the way but this will be no more. We will be having group discussions even at night which will help improve our academic performance. We commit to work hard for a brighter future of our country,” said Ineza.

The school has an enrolment of more than 700 students.

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