Parents whose children attend Ahazaza Independent School in Muhanga City have praised the school for offering both the Rwandan national curriculum and the Cambridge curriculum, saying the combination equips learners with knowledge and skills to compete nationally and internationally.
This academic year, 47 P6 pupils sat the Cambridge examinations in English, Mathematics,and Science, recording outstanding results.
Five pupils earned perfect scores in individual subjects, three scored 50/50 in Science, one 50/50 in English, and one 50/50 in Mathematics. The top candidate scored 142 out of 150 marks (94.67%) across all three subjects.
47 pupils sat the Cambridge examinations in English, Mathematics, and Science
Overall, 18 pupils scored above 80 percent, 13 scored between 70 and 80 percent, nine scored between 60 and 70 percent, and seven scored between 50 and 60 percent. All 47 pupils passed, with the lowest overall score being 76 out of 150 marks (50.66%).
Ahazaza Independent School is recognized for its strong academic performance, particularly among pupils completing primary education.
Parents say they are pleased with their children’s progress, as they perform well in national examinations while also getting the opportunity to sit for international Cambridge examinations.
Speaking to ICK News, Emmanuel Niyonzima, whose child sat for the Cambridge examinations held in May 2026, said the system gives learners broader knowledge and increases their chances of pursuing further education abroad.
“Studying under this system is beneficial because it broadens children’s knowledge and also increases their opportunities to study in good schools abroad,” he said.
Emmanuel Niyonzima, a parent
Celine Mugwaneza also expressed her happiness after her child passed the Cambridge examination, saying the results demonstrate that parents’ efforts to support their children’s education are worthwhile.
“Our wish is for a child to study well and succeed. It motivates us to continue investing all the resources we can so that his siblings can also receive a good education,” she said.
Mugwaneza added that combining the Rwandan and Cambridge curricula helps children develop broader knowledge and stronger thinking abilities.
“We believe that having our children study under both the Rwandan and Cambridge systems helps them open up their minds. Students at Ahazaza work hard, which helps them develop the ability to think and learn many things,” she added.
Another parent, Yvone Ucyeye, said the Cambridge approach helps learners develop their thinking abilities.
“A child who studies under this system is helped to open their mind and think more quickly,” she said.
Rugwiro Alain Thierry, one of the students who passed the Cambridge examinations, attributed his success to hard work and support from teachers.
“We study hard, read many Cambridge books, and our teachers support us a lot,” he said.
He encouraged other students preparing to take Cambridge examinations to work hard and remain committed to their studies.
Teachers at Ahazaza Independent School say giving learners enough time to think independently and apply what they have learned is one of the factors contributing to their performance.
Fidele Uwihoreye, one of the school’s teachers, said the Cambridge curriculum includes different approaches to learning, including critical thinking.
Fidele Uwihoreye, a teacher at Ahazaza Independent School
“The Cambridge curriculum has different areas of learning, including critical thinking. Giving children enough time to think is one of the things that helps them perform well,” he explained.
School credits success to teamwork
François Hamenyemana, the head teacher of Ahazaza Independent School, said that the school is pleased with the students’ performance, noting that they achieved results above the Cambridge average.
He said: “We are pleased with the marks our children achieved because they performed above the Cambridge average. When we compare our performance with other Cambridge schools around the world and see that we are in a good position, it makes us very happy.”
François Hamenyemana, the head teacher of Ahazaza Independent School
“We do not leave children to work on their own. We all work together, from the school leadership to the parents. We hold many meetings with parents, and we share with them the progress we make,” he added.
Ahazaza plans Cambridge secondary school
Some parents, however, are concerned that after completing primary school, children may have to move to secondary schools that do not offer the Cambridge curriculum, making it difficult for them to continue with the same system.
Hamenyemana said the school is responding to these concerns by preparing to establish a Cambridge secondary school.
“We are doing everything possible to ensure that by September 2027, we will have started the Cambridge secondary school,” he said.
He added that the study for the construction of the school has already been completed and that construction is expected to begin soon.