In a remarkable achievement for Rwanda’s education sector, Ahazaza Independent School, located in Muhanga district in the South of Rwanda, has demonstrated outstanding performance in its first Cambridge Primary Checkpoint examinations held in April 2024.
The recent Cambridge Primary Checkpoint examinations saw exceptional results from Ahazaza’s students.
Notably, Atete Kubwimana Bernise achieved perfect scores in English and Mathematics (50/50) and an outstanding 42/50 in Science.
Another student, Izere Jabo Nganji Bravado Brilliant, also excelled with scores of 41/50 in English, 50/50 in Mathematics, and 46/50 in Science.
Atete Kubwimana Bernise, speaking to ICK news, attributed their success to “the love and support of our teachers who helped us sleeplessly to shape our future in education.”
This testament underscores the dedication of the teaching staff at Ahazaza.
Dr. Dusingize Marie Paul, President of the parents having kids at Ahazaza Independent School, expressed her excitement about the results, “The reaction is positive. The results mainly remain excellent. This shows efforts made by kids, professional teachers’ contribution, good school coordination, and parents’ involvement.”
As per Dr. Dusingize, the introduction of the Cambridge program has brought about changes which keep pupils in good progress in their studies, “This program offers opportunity to pupils who receive not only national program but also international program. They are introduced to a broad knowledge and culture and with the certificate they can access Cambridge secondary schools across the globe without further admission exam.”
Kubwimana Jean Paul and Germaine Mukarukundo, the parents of Atete who scored a lot of marks in Cambridge primary checkpoint, also showed his reaction by saying, “As parents of the candidate who performed well in the assessment, we are so excited about the outcome of Cambridge Examinations for our kid and we are proud of her. As true believers.”
Apart from thanking God, teachers and parents also expressed their thankfulness to Mrs Raina Luff, the President of AHAZAZA Non-Government Organization, that brought this Program.
“I am so very please and happy as our Cambridge results are far above the international level,” said Raina Luff, “I was really surprised.” And she insisted on thanking all of Ahazaza’s teachers, from kindergarten up to, particularly, the P 6 ones.
Flavien Muhire, Interim Director of Ahazaza Independent School, emphasized the various opportunities that international programs provide for students.
The Cambridge Pathway offers a comprehensive education journey, starting from Cambridge Early Years (age 3+) through to Cambridge Advanced (age 16+), covering a wide range of subjects and skills.
According to Daniel Habyarimana, District Director of Education, Muhanga takes pride in having school that offer both national and international programs. He states, “Having a school that adheres to the national curriculum while also providing the esteemed Cambridge International Program is a significant asset. The Cambridge program’s international recognition means that students, if they need to continue their studies outside of Rwanda, can seamlessly transition to schools worldwide.”
Mr. Habyarimana also encourages other schools, both private and public, in the district to collaborate with Ahazaza Independent School. “By partnering with Ahazaza, schools can benefit from their expertise and success in delivering international education,” he asserts.
Cambridge Assessment International Education, a non-profit department of the University of Cambridge, provides these international qualifications to over 10,000 schools in more than 160 countries. In Rwanda, various schools, mainly those from Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali, have adopted the Cambridge curriculum, joining a global community of learners.
The success of Ahazaza Independent School in implementing the Cambridge program and achieving outstanding results in the Primary Checkpoint examinations serves as a beacon for international education in Rwanda.
Ahazaza Independent School, which opened its doors in 2006 with just two teachers and 12 pupils, has grown significantly over the years.
The school now boasts a student body of 563 pupils. In 2020, Ahazaza received accreditation for Cambridge programs, marking a significant milestone in its educational journey.