There is need to ensure quality education is imparted to school-going children before any country can start dreaming of achieving sustainable development.

This was said by Maj Gen Jean Bosco Kazura, the commandant of Rwanda Defence Forces Command and Staff College, on Wednesday, during the handover of more than 900 English textbooks to four primary and secondary schools in Musanze District.

Maj Gen Kazura said, while the prime responsibility of the armed forces is to maintain security and the safety of the country, ensuring quality education and striving for sustainable development is also their responsibility.

He said for the college, which provides education to senior officials, it has also the responsibility to share resources with neighbouring schools for them to train children who will be future leaders of the country in various domains.

The books donated include on African and American Literature, grammar and writing, world history books and interactive books.

Maj Gen Kazura said such books are of great importance to young learners as they help them acquire language skills and grasp history which enables them to learn other courses effectively and contribute towards the national and regional development in the future.

"You need to develop the culture of reading to sharpen your skills and prepare yourselves to become future leaders,” Kazura told students at Groupe Scolaire Kabere.

"As a military college, we also provide education and in order to develop our country we have to work together to promote education as the only path to development. Promoting education is not the responsibility of the Ministry of Education alone but it is up to all of us to ensure we prepare you to become future soldiers, mayors and other leaders,” he added.

Kazura noted that donating books to neighbouring schools was also a sign to show that the college is a good neighbour and is committed to sharing resources with both students and teachers to boost quality education in the district.

He encouraged students to use the available resources to acquire both general knowledge as well as other various skills that would help them champion national development.

Students welcome gesture

Students and teaches welcomed the initiative, saying the new books will enrich their libraries and will further boost the culture of reading because of the variety of literature at their disposal.

"I am happy for the books; I like reading but we did not have enough books, these ones will help me learn more English and literature since I am offering languages and literature,” said Pascal Dusabire, a senior six student offering English, Kiswahili and Kinyarwanda at Groupe Scolaire Nyakinama.

Marie Claire Uwamariya, the Musanze vice mayor in charge of social affairs, hailed the military college, saying the gesture is a sign that the army is committed to fulfill its responsibility of ensuring national development.

Uwamariya said the donated books will accelerate the learning process in schools.

The schools that benefited from the donation are Groupe Scolaire Kabaya, Groupe Scolaire Kabere, Nyakinama and Muko.

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