For the first time Rwandan students have graduated in International Baccalaurate (IB), a diploma programme offered to students in the last two years of high school.

Last week, thirteen students from Green Hills Academy got their results after completing the two-year programme.

The deputy headmaster of Green Hills Academy and the Coordinator of the Programme, Gaspard Kagenza, said the programme is aimed at preparing students to join national and international universities.

All the students who registered for the bi-lingual diploma in English and French qualified for their diplomas, Kagenza said.

The programme, which is offered in all continents, was introduced in the country by Green Hills Academy two years ago.

Kagenza said that for a school to be authorised to start up this programme, it has to fulfill certain conditions required to meet the international standards.

"The authorisation process considers the quality of teaching and the availability of teaching resources," he said.

The best performing student in the programme was Pauline Mutumwinka.

And she said: "After the course, we are able to think and critically analyze issues."

She added that the knowledge they acquired from the programme will help them write their memoirs at the university.

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