GSO-Butare marks 83rd anniversary

HUYE–Hundreds of former and current students as well as teachers and well wishers on Sunday descended on Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare (GSOB) Indatwa n’inkesha, in Huye district to celebrate the school’s 83rd anniversary.The school, one of the oldest in the country, was established in 1929 by the Brothers of Charity to train local individuals who later assisted the Belgian colonial administration.Initially, the school known as Groupe Scolaire d’Astrida, enrolled students from Rwanda and Burundi, offering courses mainly in administration. Currently, the school teaches science-related subjects only.Some of the high profile figures who attended the school include the Prince of Burundi, Louis Rwagasore and King Kigeli V Ndahindurwa of Rwanda.Dr Venant Ntabomvura, who joined the school in 1939, gave a testimony of his life as a student.He told the gathering that the school helped him-and others- to excel in life and called on current management and students to maintain its legacy of excellence.“We should always strive to be excellent and competitive. That’s when we will be honouring the legacy of this school. It trained us to be the best of the best, so we must strive for that end,” he said.On Sunday, the school awarded over 20 best students. Those recognised are the ones who scored over 80 percent in last term’s exams, according to Father Pierre Celestin Rwirangira, the school’s principal.Rwirangira noted that the rewards were meant to encourage excellence and positive competition among students as a way of steering better performance.Highlighting the school’s recent performance, he reaffirmed their commitment to offering quality education as a way of maintaining academic excellence.“For the last three years, we have been the top in sciences nationwide”, he said. “Some of our students have even got scholarships to study abroad”, he added, citing the example of one Aline Umuhire Juru who is currently studying at Hendrix College in Arkansas, USA after winning a presidential scholarship as she emerged the best in sciences in the 2010 academic year.“We remain committed to maintaining excellence both in academics and other areas, including sports and culture”, Rwirangira pledged.“We will keep working hard and promoting quality education. We will also stay close to our students to listen to them because that is also important in shaping their minds and preparing them to be the best”.Huye Vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs,. Christine Niwemugeni, commended the school for its contribution in promoting quality education. and called on students and teachers to ensure the school remains on top.“Let us maintain that commitment for a thousand years”, she pleaded.

National

GSO-Butare marks 83rd anniversary