School leaders in Kirehe District have pledged to strengthen the teaching of the English language by ensuring children are taught effectively and teachers receive additional training. The initiative aims to improve student performance.
This commitment was emphasized on August 27, 2025, during a meeting on preparations for the 2025–2026 academic year. The meeting was attended by Kirehe District officials, sector leaders, and school headteachers.
In the 2024–2025 academic year, Kirehe ranked first nationwide in both primary and lower secondary education (Tronc Commun), scoring 97.09% in primary schools and 91.3% in lower secondary schools.
Some school heads said last year’s excellent results encourage them to put even more effort into English language teaching, as it is the main medium of instruction and the language in which national exams are conducted.
Pierre Mugabo, head of Nyabubare I School in Nasho Sector, explained:
“Last year’s success in Kirehe was not by chance it was well-prepared. Now, we want to perform even better, especially by focusing on English. We have adopted strong strategies. Teachers are now required to teach in English and also improve their own proficiency. Each school has appointed an English coordinator who organizes student learning groups to help them strengthen their skills in the language.”
Vestine Nirere, head of Utunyange Vision School, added:
“What I have observed is that students learn English better when it is part of their daily communication. At our school, both teachers and students are encouraged to speak English. My advice is that schools should establish and monitor strategies that promote English use, and leaders should form student groups where they practice speaking the language. We are also grateful to the district leadership, which continues to guide us.”
Bruno Rangira, Kirehe district Mayor, emphasized the need for innovation to maintain success in coming years. He confirmed that there are ongoing plans to provide English training for teachers, enabling students to achieve good results with strong knowledge.
“We are encouraging schools to be innovative so students can enjoy learning and remain motivated. Regarding English, there are existing programs to train teachers, and we will continue working closely with REB (Rwanda Education Board) to strengthen this further.” He stated.
In the 2024–2025 academic year, 84 out of 118 primary schools in Kirehe achieved a 100% pass rate, while 38 out of 64 lower secondary schools also registered a 100% pass rate.
Education leaders believe that with stronger English language teaching and continuous teacher training, Kirehe can maintain its top performance and set an example for other districts across Rwanda.
