Visiting Students At Kinihira School
April 07, 2011
Written by Peter Clay, Senior Advisor to GACP
It's safe to say the future of Gishwati Forest is with the children of Rwanda. A visit to Kinihira school shows the Forest of Hope is in good hands.
This morning, our new community engagement manager, Faustin Gashakamba, and I visited the Kinihira School. It is located very close to the research field station for our Gishwati Area Conservation Program. Philippe Gasasira, who teaches first-year secondary school students at Kinihira School, accompanied us. Phillipe has been a good friend and has helped GACP build a positive partnership with this school located next to the Forest of Hope. It was good to see him again.
Kinihira School is now a “Basic Nine” school. That means it includes Primary One to Primary Six and the three years of secondary school. The Rwandan government mandated last year that all children should receive nine years of basic education, rather than six. Selected primary schools, such as Kinihira, are expanding to accommodate this new commitment to educating Rwanda’s young people.
Faustin and I wanted to meet students involved in the Kinihira School “eco-club,” which is supported by GACP, as well as to see the eucalyptus trees planted last fall on the school grounds. The young eucalyptus trees are cared for by the eco-club members (pictured). These non-native trees will not be replanted into the forest, but rather will help local people meet the basic need for fuel wood that is used for cooking and heating. Through a very labor intensive process, planks and poles made from the trees are used in construction of area buildings.
We also wanted to see the six new classrooms, built as part of the expansion of the school to become a “Basic Nine” institution. The Gishwati Area Conservation Program provided all the bricks for the six new classrooms (two for each grade level). It was exciting to see the new classrooms in use.
Even though it is now vacation break for students, many of the Primary Six students were preparing for exams that will determine where they may attend secondary school. If they do well, they will have the opportunity to choose schools that may have better resources. However, all students will now be supported to complete at least nine years of education. This may be expanded to 12 years of basic education in the near future, as the nation strives to build a future that includes opportunities for all of Rwanda’s youth.
TO VIEW A VIDEO OF RWANDAN SCHOOL CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN A CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOR THE GISHWATI FOREST, GO HERE.
