At least 36 secondary school students from Rwanda will participate in international competitions in mathematics, physics, informatics, and artificial intelligence between June and August.
The competitions will take place in China, Côte d’Ivoire, Colombia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.
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Students from African Olympiad Academy, Ecole des Sciences Byimana, Gashora Girls Academy, Rwanda Coding Academy, Maranyundo Girls School, and Hope Haven Christian School secured their places after ranking among the top performers in a nationwide selection process that attracted more than 56,000 learners from over 900 schools.
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The students will compete in some of the world’s most competitive academic contests, including the International Mathematical Olympiad, Pan-African Mathematical Olympiad, International Physics Olympiad, International Olympiad in Informatics, and International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence.
Speaking to The New Times, Obed Nsanzimfura Korusenge, Managing Director of the Rwanda Olympiad Foundation, said the selection process is rigorous and designed to identify the country’s best young talent in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Korusenge said the programme operates through structured national competitions, training camps, and international participation. He explained that Rwanda now runs Olympiad training in three main areas including mathematics, computer science (informatics and artificial intelligence), and physics.
"In mathematics, Rwanda participates in the International Mathematical Olympiad, Pan-African Mathematical Olympiad, East African Mathematical Olympiad, and the European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad, which is exclusively for girls. In informatics, students compete in the International Olympiad in Informatics and the Pan-African Informatics Olympiad,” he said.
"In artificial intelligence, Rwanda takes part in the International Olympiad in AI and the African Olympiad in AI, while in physics it participates in the International Physics Olympiad.”
The first group of six students is already in China for the International Mathematical Olympiad. Another team of six students are set to attend the Pan-African Mathematical Olympiad due in Côte d’Ivoire from June 26 to July 4.
Korusenge added that in the coming months, Rwanda will send students to Colombia for the International Physics Olympiad, while teams in informatics andAI will compete in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, respectively.
Rwanda is also set to host Pan-African Informatics Olympiad in Kigali from July 23 to 30, bringing together top young programmers from the continent.
The students were selected through a three-stage national competition structure divided into junior and senior categories. The Rwanda Olympiad Competition, conducted in both English and Kinyarwanda, is designed to ensure accessibility across schools. The first round attracted more than 56,000 students, with progression based on performance and gender inclusion criteria.
The top 200 performers are invited to residential training camps, where they receive intensive coaching ahead of international competitions.
Korusenge said Rwanda is looking to build on its recent progress in international mathematics competitions.
"At the International Mathematical Olympiad, we aim to win our first-ever medal. For Pan-African Mathematical Olympiad, we aim to secure another gold medal after the one in 2024,” he said.
The International Mathematical Olympiad attracts more than 100 countries annually, while International Olympiad in Informatics draws about 90 countries. The International Physics Olympiad and International Olympiad in AI host around 85 and 80 countries, respectively.
He noted that strong performance at such competitions opens doors for students beyond the classroom, including scholarships, university admissions, research opportunities, and access to global academic networks.
"Good performing at these international competitions is a big deal. It proves that one is a rare gem in the space of STEM globally,” he said.
Korusenge said government support has strengthened the programme, noting that for the first time this year, the government covered flight tickets for students taking part in the International Mathematical Olympiad, and Pan-African Mathematical Olympiad competitions.
He said schools and partners such as the African Olympiad Academy, which specialises in Olympiad-style training, support competitive STEM education in Rwanda. He called for more schools to take part, saying many students are still unaware of the opportunity.