MUSANZE - Pierre Celestin Urisanga of Ecole de Science Musanze, who emerged the overall best student countrywide in last academic year’s Senior Six national examinations, is an orphan.

Urisanga, who was offering Mathematics and Physics, scored 10.3 points in the results which were released on Saturday.

He said his secret was good time management and

concentration in class.

"I expected to pass but not to become the overall best. I viewed senior six examinations as a turning point in my life and therefore decided to revise early enough," Urisanga said as he tried to hold back tears.

The 19-year-old who has never been to Kigali City said his father died just four months to his S.6 national examinations last year and the mother in 1998 just as he was preparing to sit for his Primary Six examinations.

"It was not an easy situation but even amidst all that, I thank God He has never abandoned me," he told The New Times. "I prayed and never resigned on my studies despite the hard times I was going through."

"Because of the problems I was facing, I had no choice but to put my faith in God and make sure that I concentrated in class. It was not easy during my last days of Senior Six although my father died after he cleared tuition for first term and my brother paid for the remaining period," Urisanga recalled.

Born in Muko Sector, Musanze District, to late Cyprien Munyamategeko and Domina Nyirandikubwimana, Urisanga went to Muko Primary School and Ecole Secondaire Buhuga in Gakenke District, Northern Province, where he studied his O’ Level.

His says he would pursue Electronic Engineering at the National University of Rwanda (NUR), which will make him realise his childhood dream of becoming an engineer.

Teachers at Ecole Secondaire de Musanze said discipline and hard work made Urisanga pass with flying colours.

They said the school provides awards for the best students in all classes as a way of motivating them and encouraging competition.

Urisanga is now a part-time teacher at ACEK Bihembe Secondary School in Nyabihu District, Western Province.

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