As Ahazaza Independent School celebrated 20 years of providing quality education, parents praised the institution for its international education programmes, saying they have enabled their children to excel academically while developing the skills needed to compete globally.
The celebrations, held on June 28, 2026, at the school’s campus in Muhanga District, brought together parents, education officials, staff, alumni, and partners to reflect on the school’s achievements over the past two decades.
District officials, community members and alumni mark Ahazaza Independent School’s 20th anniversary celebrations
Many parents said they chose Ahazaza Independent School because of its multilingual approach to education, internationally recognised curriculum, and commitment to nurturing well-rounded learners.
One of the parents, Emanuel Niyonzima, said that a parent’s responsibility extends beyond providing food and clothing, emphasizing that investing in quality education is equally important.
“We chose Ahazaza Independent School because of the quality of education it provides. I am delighted that my child can now speak Kinyarwanda, English and French,” he said.
Niyonzima expressed confidence that the strong educational foundation his child has received would prepare him for future success.
“He still has a long educational journey ahead of him, but I believe he has been given a solid foundation that will help him succeed in the future. I am very happy with the decision I made to bring him to this school,” he added.
Other parents echoed similar sentiments, noting that the school’s international programmes, multilingual instruction, and globally recognised Cambridge curriculum were among the main reasons they entrusted their children’s education to Ahazaza Independent School.
Speaking during the anniversary celebration, the Vice President of Ahazaza NGO, Jean Baptiste Hategekimana, paid tribute to the school’s founder, Raina Luff, who passed away two years ago. He said her vision continues to shape the institution’s mission of preparing Rwandan children to become globally competitive citizens.
Jean Baptiste Hategekimana, the Vice President of Ahazaza NGO
“The Ahazaza NGO, together with Ahazaza Independent School, was officially authorised to operate in Rwanda on March 29, 2006, under the leadership of Raina Luff. It was then that Ahazaza Independent School was established with the mission of providing quality education,” he said.
According to Hategekimana, the founder envisioned an education system that would nurture knowledgeable children with strong values and equip them with the skills to study and work anywhere in the world.
The founder’s son, Richard Luff, who is the current president of the Ahazaza School, emphasised that if Rwanda’s biggest assets is its young generation and that a high level education of its children stands at the core of its development. He added that offering education in both French and English, the Ahazaza School finds itself in a unique position to offer its pupils the future that the country needs to meet its ambitious development targets.
Richard Luff, President of Ahazaza Independent School
Representing the Ministry of Education in the Southern Province, Christophe Nsengiyaremye commended the contribution of private schools such as Ahazaza Independent School in improving the quality of education in Rwanda.
He encouraged parents to continue supporting their children’s learning by providing essential educational materials, including exercise books, textbooks, and other learning resources.
Christophe Nsengiyaremye, Southern Province Education Coordinator
“Schools should always be ready to welcome every learner and provide quality education in line with the national curriculum. Building an excellent school requires visionary leadership, competent teachers, and strong collaboration with parents,” he said.
The school’s Head Teacher, François Hamenyimana, said Ahazaza Independent School is committed to expanding its services beyond primary education by establishing a secondary school that will continue offering the Cambridge curriculum.
François Hamenyimana, the school’s Head Teacher
“We are ready to continue expanding the school by introducing secondary education, which will also follow the Cambridge programme,” he said.
Over the past 20 years, Ahazaza Independent School has grown from a single classroom into a thriving institution with 25 classrooms, 617 students, 41 teachers, and 11 support staff.
