Korea pledges further support to science education

The State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Mathias Harebamungu, has urged parents, community, industry and other institutions to encourage the use of sciences to cultivate home grown solutions. Harebamungu made the remarks on Saturday at the conclusion of a science contest at Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC) Kicukiro in Kigali that brought together over 481 students countrywide. The contest, which kicked off in June this year, was funded by the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in conjunction with the Ministry of Education.“Ensure that science is the key towards attaining direct home grown solutions,” said the minister. “I am sure that one thing we’ve learnt from this competition is that it does not mean you need huge and sophisticated laboratories at secondary school and university level. Science and technology are a way of living. Start exploring what you have and build this on self confidence and ability as a stepping stone,” Harebamungu urged. He thanked Koica for its support in science education and urged the students to work hard in science subjects.The Korean Ambassador to Rwanda, Soontaik Hwang, pledged his government’s commitment to teaching of sciences in Rwanda as well as in many other African countries.“Korea has a programme to invite all developing countries — including Rwanda — to Korea and has a room for them,” said Soontaik.The competition was divided into three categories; scientific theory, science fair and science experiments. Of the 60 contestants in the final round, Aphrodise Imanishimwe from College Saint Andrè, in Kigali emerged the overall winner followed by David Ndabarinze from Groupe Scolaire Musanze in the Northern Province. Patrice Nostalgie Nkumbuyiwacu from Petit Seminaire Rwesero and Rampard Rwagaju Aphrodise from Lyceé de Kigali were third and fourth, respectively. The two winners were awarded with scholastic materials worth Rfw60,000 and a study trip to Korea. “I thank the organisers and request them to organise more similar competitions to help students build their capacity in science subjects,” said Nkumbuyiwacu.

National

Korea pledges further support to science education