EASTERN PROVINCE

BUGESERA — The First Lady Jeannette Kagame has implored parents across the country to embrace education to build the human resource capacity.

The First Lady told the audience that the precious resource Rwanda has is its people.

"Our precious resource is our people. Our aim is to invest in capacity building," she said. She was yesterday commissioning the new and modern girls’ school in Bugesera district— Maranyundo Girls’ Secondary School. The school was built by Maranyundo Initiative Project.

She told the newly enrolled students that their future lies in their hard work and determination that they put in education.

She also appreciated the excellent education partnership between Rwanda and USA government for supporting the construction of the school.

Mrs. Kagame further urged students to utilise the opportunity of having well furnished school, with skilled teachers and management to excel in their studies if they are to be future leaders. "Our challenge now is hardwork to achieve the bright future," she said.

Issah Karaveli of the Ministry of Education promised government support to the school. He said that the ministry [of Education] has donated funds to the school to construct the school fence and toilets.

"Our target is elevating the school to ‘A’ level school and building second laboratory for the school. Since the school has only thirty computers for sixty students, the ministry will give more computers as the number increases," he said.

Karaveli also called upon the girls to put much emphasis on science subjects and ICT.

Sister Ann Fox, the initiator of the project appreciated the support of President Paul Kagame and his government for making the initiative a reality.

The Maranyundo Initiative is said to be dedicated to the continued improvement of the quality of education in Rwanda.

FOX said their focus is on building and developing a model secondary school for girls in Nyamata-Bugesera, and training teachers countrywide through the building of a teacher training institute.

She said that the Maranyundo Initiative offers hope, pride, opportunity, and a uniting force for Rwanda and its young women.

Jennifer Boyle, the executive director of Maranyundo Initiative further said that the school is independent and boarding school for top female students from poor families.

According to the director, the students who were enrolled are those needy students who passed primary six national exams in the district.

"At least 75 per cent of our students are from Bugesera district and 25 per cent are from the rest of the country. And we admitted students who were backed by their previous schools, mayors and district education officers, as genuine needy children," she said.

The school has only senior one with only sixty students. The director also said that their target is to admit only 180 students. We shall admit more 60 students next year and for the subsequent years we shall be admitting only senor one, she added.

She said their initiative represents an international partnership of educators, government leaders, and dedicated people with vision whose aim is to help Rwandans forge a bright future for their people.

"A cornerstone of this partnership is to build schools and school systems that help fulfill the Rwandan commitment to education. Together we are breaking new ground, both literally and figuratively," she explained.

The school’s mission is to provide an excellent community-based private education for girls of limited financial means to help them develop into future leaders for Rwanda.

According to the executive director, the school will be administered by the Benebikira Congregation- a Rwandan order of Catholic sisters who are said to be national leaders in the field of education.

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