Muhanga and Rwamagana districts were crowned champions of the inaugural School Head Teachers Volleyball competition that concluded in Kigali on Friday, June 28. Muhanga secured the men's title after defeating Karongi 3-1 (25-22, 18-25, 25-17, 25-15), while Rwamagana won women’s tournament after beating Muhanga in three straight sets (25-10, 25-15, 25-13) in the finals held at Collège Saint Andre courts in Nyamirambo. ALSO READ: Equipping primary school teachers with laptops is key to bridging digital divide Bugesera and Nyaruguru claimed third place after beating Karongi and Musanze in women and men’s categories respectively. Organized by the Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB) in collaboration with the Heads of Schools Organization in Rwanda (HOSO), the school head teachers tournament aims at promoting sports in schools and attract more students to participate. This first edition of the tournament focused solely on volleyball, starting at the district level from which teams qualified to compete at province and national levels. REB Director General Dr. Nelson Mbarushimana, told Times Sport, that “in our education program, we consider sports as a vital subject, just like any other, with dedicated teachers. We organized this head teachers' tournament to foster competition among them and inspire their students.” “These head teachers are decision-makers in their respective schools. If they prioritize and enjoy sports, their students will be more inclined to do the same. This tournament aims to instill the love for sports among students taking example from their leaders,” he added. Mbarushimana further revealed plans to expand the tournament and include more sports disciplines besides organizing a regional head teachers’ competition in Rwanda next year. “The ambition is to make this tournament an annual event and extend it to other disciplines such as football, basketball, and athletics.We are also considering a regional competition, with the first edition potentially taking place in Rwanda in 2025,” he said. Eugenie Umurerwa, the headmistress at GS Murambi was part of Rwamagana’s team that won the women’s volleyball competition. Umurerwa highlighted the competition’s benefits in enhancing competitiveness and improving physical and mental health. “We won the title, but the benefits of this competition are far more significant than the title itself. It encouraged us to exercise regularly, something many of us neglected before,” she said. “Due to the busy schedules of head teachers, many of us used to avoid exercise. However, through these games, we have seen that it’s possible and enjoyable. By leading by example, we can inspire our students, which will help rebuild a better Inter-Schools Competition.”
