Groupe Scolaire APRED Ndeera, a secondary school in Gasabo district, has received $800 (Frw435,000) from Gordano School of the United Kingdom. Speaking at the handover ceremony on Thursday, Graham Silverstone, the head teacher of Gordano School, said that the computers would offer an opportunity to stengthen the relationship between students from both schools. “We will be able to exchange so much with the help of the computers. Students and teachers will get to know how students are taught in different countries,” said Silverstone.The donation comes four years after the two schools set up a twinning arrangement. During this time four teachers from Gordano School, in Portishead, England, have visited the school in Rwanda, while two Ndeera teachers have spent time in Britain. Speaking to the teachers in a separate staff meeting, Gordano deputy head, Gavin Ball, emphasized the need to work closely on projects between students of both schools.“Regular communication should be maintained if we are to benefit,” Ball said. Skype, the computer programme that allows users to make telephone calls over the internet to other Skype users free of charge, is to be introduced at Ndeera so that students can communicate more easily with their counterparts in Britain. During the week long visit, the two Gordano teachers improved internet links in Ndeera’s computer laboratory. The head teacher of Ndeera, Andrew Kaliisa, disclosed that construction of a new computer lab was underway at the school in preparation for the upcoming developments. In July 2009, 19 Gordano students and three teachers will visit Ndeera for over three weeks. The visitors will camp at the school. Ndeera students could not hide their excitement. “We are so happy to have such a chance to relate with foreign students,” said Jackie Uwera, a senior six student.Ends
