HUYE – 60 female students from Huye and Gisagara districts were, yesterday, rewarded with gift packs containing scholastic materials, after they excelled in last year’s national examinations.

Winners from Primary and O’level received school bags, dictionaries, books, calculators, mathematical sets, pens, wrist watches and Rwf 20 000 in cash.

Those who excelled at A’Level, got laptops.
The rewarding ceremony is part of a campaign by Imbuto Foundation, under the leadership of the First Lady, Jeannette Kagame, that aims at empowering girls.

Representing the First Lady, Rose Mukantabana, the Speaker of the Lower Chamber of Parliament, commended the initiative.

She told the winners that education is central to development and urged them to maintain the spirit of hardwork.

"Over the last few years, it is clear that school enrolment of girls is increasing; they are even studying subjects which were formerly relatively male-dominated. I want to congratulate the girls who have excelled and request them to continue seeking excellence in whatever they do,” Mukantabana said.

According to Mukantabana, rewarding best students fosters the spirit of competition, which helps improve performance.

Speaking to The New Times, Aline Umuhire Juru, who had been rewarded at Primary and O’level, said that her previous recognition had motivated her to work even harder.

Juru, a former student at Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare, emerged the best in sciences nationwide in last year’s senior six examinations.
She received a laptop and a Presidential scholarship to a US university.

"You cannot fail in class when you have books and other scholastic materials that you need. The awards I received from the Foundation in the lower classes made me self-confident and encouraged me to work hard,” Juru noted.
Since the campaign began over 2470 girls have been recognized for their outstanding performance in the national examinations.

At the event four Guardian Angels were rewarded for their role in raising children not their own.

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