A Chinese firm is set to invest $1 million (approximately Rwf595 million) to build primary schools in Rwanda.

This is part of a general project to construct primary schools across the African continent, by the China-Africa Project Hope, a flagship of World Eminence Chinese Business Association.

This was revealed by the Chairman of the Chinese Business Association, Junqing Lu after touring Kagugu School in Kigali City.

Kagugu is one of the model public schools under the Nine-Year Basic Education programme.

The China-Africa Project Hope is championed by Chinese entrepreneurs and has set aside $15m towards the continental project.

According to Junqing, the first phase of the programme targets three countries that include Rwanda. The initial funding is expected to be disbursed in March this year.
"The initial funding will come after we have properly ascertained the need and where to construct the schools. The Ministry of Education will provide us with the necessary information,” he said.

Junqing, who was accompanied by the Secretary General of the project, Jennifer Lu and the Advisor to the Education State Minister, Janvier Gasana, commended the government for doing a lot in promoting ICT in schools.

This was after visiting a class of school children learning geography with the help of laptops. The school is one of the beneficiaries to the One Laptop Per Child project.
Speaking to The New Times, Gasana said that the Rwandan Embassy in Beijing lobbied the organisation to include Rwanda on its list of beneficiaries.

"We are going to look at the schools’ map to see where we need more schools and advise them accordingly,” stated Gasana.

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