Kayonza -The country’s top ranked secondary school during the 2011 National Examinations, New Life Primary and Secondary school, rewarded its best students with certificates of merit at a colourful ceremony presided over by the Governor of Eastern Province, Odette Uwimana.The school’s primary section emerged the second best nationally.According to the school’s headmaster John Africa, the performance was "exceptional”. The school received 89.5 percent first grade in ordinary level and 87 percent first grade in primary school.He described the period of learning as intense, adding that the awards were set up to particularly encourage and recognise those who exhibited, "the singular character of resilience while at school”."116 out of 118 Ordinary Level students passed in first grade...only two students got second grade. 34 out of 38 pupils got first grade... the rest got second grades.  At O’ Level, five out of 10 best students in the country were from our school,” he mentioned.Pastor Charles Mugisha, the school’s founder and President of African Life Ministries, told students and the school staff that their hard work had put them among the best in the country.Speaking at the event, Mugisha said the occasion not only signalled a new dawn towards the development of future leaders, but also moulded students with prospect for change.He, however, expressed his concern that the school’s expansion was greatly hindered by delays in expropriations."We want to build a one million dollar high school...our master plan has been there for the last two years, just due to one resident who has become a stumbling block. He refused all kinds of compensation... we need intervention of the authorities to pave way for our investment,” he pleaded.The Governor commended the school for the performance, saying that schools in Eastern Province had generally performed excellently."The first and second best ordinary level schools were from this Province...Maranyundo School in Bugesera District was second to New Life while La Gazzert primary school in Ngoma District  ranked number one in the country,” she noted.