[PHOTOS]: Imbuto foundation rewards 2015 best performing girls at national exams

Imbuto foundation has launched its annual promotion of girls education through which girls are rewarded for their top performance at national exams. The campaign was launched on 5 March 2016 in Rulindo District -Shyorongi sector, where 17 best performing girls at Primary and Advanced levels from Gakenke and Rulindo Districts were rewarded. Nothern province governor, Bosenibamwe Aimé. The awards which Imbuto foundation has been giving for the last 11 years will be given in every district, part of the rewards are various scholastic materials and a start up fund of Rwf 20,000. Those who performed well in advanced level are given laptops and trained on its usage before joining University. Some of the rewarded Best Performing Girls. Honorable Minister of Education Dr. Papias Musafiri Malimba who officially opened the recognition ceremonies on behalf of Her Excellency the First Lady Mrs. Jeannette Kagame, urged students to grab the opportunities presented by the motivational awards to expand their performance and make better choices for their bright future. “We congratulate the awarded girls but also commend their educators who inspired them confidence,” Minister of Education said. Minister Musafiri stressed that parents’ education at family level is the foundation of the whole general education “Having scholastic materials, infrastructure, and quality teachers without a supporting family cannot help much.” Minister of Education, Dr. Papias Musafiri Malimba posing with one of the awardees. Imbuto foundation has so far awarded 4,257 girls excluding the ones for this year and the move is contributing to national education policies like girls education policy, gender policy, ICT policy and others according to Musafiri. However, he said, learned values besides class performance are needed to avoid unwanted pregnancies that interrupt girls passion and vision. “We still need to work hard to remove challenges affecting girls including unwanted pregnancies. Muhorakeye Candide, one of the rewarded Best Performing Girls expressing her gratitude towards Imbuto Foundation. Whatever punishment will be given to the one that impregnates our girls, the victim will still suffer from the negative effects including dropout, HIV&AIDS infection and sexually transmitted diseases,” he warned. Aimé Bosenibamwe, the Northern Province governor reminded participants that at least 100 girls completing advanced level have not attended national Itorero commission due to having unwanted/teenage pregnancies. He added there is also need to support street children including girls which is another challenge currently hampering boys’ and girls’ education. Director General of Imbuto Foundation, Urujeni Bakuramutsa. UNICEF chief of education in Rwanda, Graham Yang commended Rwanda efdorts in the promotion of girl child education and how Rwanda managed to achieve millennium development goals in education sector. “Education is the basis of sustainable and personal development, and educating a girl is educating the family that educates future leaders of the nation,” he said. Candide Muhorakeye, a girl who performed well in advanced level in Maths, physics and chemistry at Stella Matutina college of education pledged to continue working hard to get more awards. Best Performing Girls with Minister of Education Dr. Papias Musafiri Malimba, Nothern Province governor, Aimé Bosenibamwe (to his right), Imbuto Foundation Director General, Urujeni Bakuramutsa (to his left) and other officials. (All photos by M. Nkurunziza) She was impressed by Emelyne Cishahayo Umutoni, also awarded by Imbuto foundation in 2007 and is now teaching at University of Rwanda in the faculty of medicine at the same time doing post graduate courses. Girls out-shined boys in the 2015 senior six national leaving examinations according to the recent results. Girls recorded a pass rate of 51.9 per cent while boys recorded 48.1 per cent. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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[PHOTOS]: Imbuto foundation rewards 2015 best performing girls at national exams