RWAMAGANA – Screams of joy rocked Ecole des Science Infirmieries (ESI) Rwamagana in Rwamagana District, Eastern Province, when the school’s best performer in last academic year’s Senior Six examinations paid a visit on Tuesday.

Aline Maniragena, who scored an aggregate of 9.6 points making her the fourth best student countrywide, decided to go to the school like any other former student going to check their examination results, only to receive a heroine’s welcome as the entire school community burst into celebrations on seeing her.

It was the excellent performance of Maniragena and her colleagues that lifted the nursing school to the top spot countrywide.

ESI Rwamagana, which saw all its 28 students passing highly, emerged the best school countrywide with an average of 7.88 points. Maximum points are 11.

In company of the school’s top administrators including the head teacher and the director of studies, Maniragena moved from class to class, urging those students to become as brave and keep the school’s status high.

Basking in the warmth of a community she was part of until late last year, Maniragena waved to jubilant students who clearly looked at her as a role model.

"Such a triumph is a source of genuine pride. Thanks to God, I have managed to achieve my longtime dream,” she said.

Maniragena, who also became the second overall best girl student according to the results released over the weekend, said that coming from a poor family, she had always prayed to God to give her points that are enough to take her to the university.

 "I toiled for this achievement and now I can see that it was not in vain. I just can’t afford to express my happiness,” she said.

The head teacher, Sister Epiphanie Mukabaranga, urged other students to follow in the footsteps of their elders, who she said had given the school a great pride.

"I am extremely happy to see all my students pass with such flying colours. This gives us confidence and respect as a school,” she said.

In the national ranking, Maniragena was followed by her former classmate Prisca Ingabire, who scored 9.5 points, becoming the second best student at the school, and the third best girl performer nationwide.

Sr Mukabaranga attribute her school’s feat to discipline and hard-work on the part of students, coupled with quality teaching staff.

"What we have always requested our students is to observe discipline and to study hard in order to excel and maintain our school’s good performance,” the head teacher said.
She said the school had sourced for qualified teachers, and provided sufficient education facilities and a good reading environment to the students.

She observed that inculcating discipline in students and covering the curricula as provided by the Ministry of Education was a prerequisite to the success of students.
Maniregena praised the school administration for instilling good morals in her and her counterparts besides providing quality education.

Of the 28 students that sat for the 2007 Senior Six national examinations from the school, two (Maniragena and Ingabire) obtained grand distinctions (above five points), twenty-three passed with distinctions (above seven points), while three got satisfaction, with the least performer scoring 5.6 points.

ESI Rwamagana is among the five schools offering A1 certificate courses in nursing and midwife countrywide, others being ESI Kibungo, ESI Nyagatare, ESI Byumba and ESI Kabgayi.

The school started in 1962 offering ordinary level in nursing and midwife courses and from 1966 to 2006, it offered A2 diplomas.

The last batch of students to be offered A2 diplomas completed in 2007 because from 2006, the school was approved to offer A1 degrees after a three-year course.
The pioneer students on degree courses are now in second year.

The school has a total of 68 students, 31 of whom are in first year while others are in their second year.
Ends