The first ever science exhibition involving Rwandan primary schools ended yesterday, with various school children picking interest in the subject.

The expo which was organised by the French Cultural Centre, attracted over 84 schools and 32,014 pupils from the three Kigali City districts - Nyarugenge, Gasabo and Kicukiro.

During the three-month exhibition that began in May, the pupils experimented, observed, practiced and subsequently made interesting science discoveries.

Dr Marie Christine Gasingirwa, the Director of Science in the Ministry of Education said that the exhibition will help improve the performance and desire to study science subjects thus building a science-based society.

"This exposition has touched deeper than any text book could have done. It has helped many pupils understand and get the practical bit of what they have been taught in theory,”Gasingirwa said.

She added that such expositions prepare pupils to critically think and get solutions by themselves; instead of piling them with many notes which they might never read. She added that the exercise had also made science more interesting.

The Director of the French Cultural Centre Maurice Brovard, said that the exhibition was successful and met their expectations.

"Rwanda is the second country in Africa to have hosted this expo after Djibouti. We have received good feedback from teachers, whose pupils participated in the expo.

Most of them said the students enjoyed the practical sciences and would love to see it more because it makes the subject fun and easier to understand,” Brovard said.

He added that they plan to hold the exhibition on an annual basis to improve science studies and professionals in the science world.

Faustin Rutembesa, the headmaster of Groupe Scolaire Cyahafi, noted that it is important for teachers to make the subject more practical so that pupils understand science better.

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