Fifteen new classrooms, 18 toilet facilities and 10 motorcycles were officially handed over to Rwankuba Primary School in Gasabo District on July 4 during the celebration of the 32nd anniversary of Rwanda’s liberation.

The infrastructure was inaugurated during the closing ceremony of the Defence and Security Citizen Outreach Programme, an annual initiative through which Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), Rwanda National Police (RNP), local authorities and communities implement projects aimed at improving citizens' welfare.

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Speaking at the event, State Minister for Education Claudette Irere said the outreach programme reflects the strong partnership between citizens and security institutions in building a peaceful and prosperous country.

"This programme has continued to promote the values of patriotism and strengthened the lasting partnership between security institutions and citizens,” she noted, adding that as Rwandans celebrate liberation, they also mark the progress the country has made in terms of unity, hard work and rebuilding.

Irere said the newly completed classrooms will help address overcrowding and improve learning conditions.

"The classrooms will enable children to learn in a better environment after it was noted that many were studying in overcrowded classrooms. This is part of the government's programme, implemented through the Ministry of Education, to increase classroom infrastructure so that every Rwandan child has access to quality education,” she said.

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The minister urged residents, parents and learners to protect the facilities and ensure they serve future generations.

"We all have a responsibility to safeguard what has been achieved. Let us take good care of these schools and ensure that our children study well because protecting our achievements is protecting Rwanda's future.”

The handover formed part of a wider package of community projects completed during the three-month outreach programme, including medical outreach services, construction of bridges, schools and hospitals, extension of clean water supply, construction of houses for vulnerable families, provision of irrigation equipment, environmental protection initiatives, and donation of boats and motorcycles to improve transport.

Fulgence Dusabimana, Vice Mayor in charge of Urbanisation and Infrastructure for the City of Kigali (City of Kigali), said the RDF and Rwanda National Police remain partners with citizens on a journey of liberation from poverty, noting that true liberation must translate into dignified livelihoods and improved living standards.

"We are still together on the journey of liberating ourselves from poverty so that we can live in conditions that fit every Rwandan. These initiatives are many and ongoing, and we are committed to protecting and sustaining them.”

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He called on citizens to take ownership of development efforts and build self-reliance.

"All these achievements come from our own efforts. We must learn to rely on what we have, however little it may be, because that is what drives development,” he said. "Everyone, from their respective position, has a role to play in building the country we want.”

Tite Siborurema, head teacher of Rwankuba School, said learning conditions had long been affected by severe overcrowding, which hindered effective teaching and learning.

He noted that the school currently has about 2,071 learners accommodated in only 24 classrooms, meaning each class had an average of 86 pupils.

"With such numbers, a teacher cannot adequately follow up on every child to ensure proper learning outcomes,” he said.

Siborurema welcomed the new classrooms, saying they would ease congestion and improve teaching quality, adding that the school serves pupils from three sectors and has long been the only nearby school available.

"This led to continuous increases in enrolment, reaching levels that made effective teaching difficult,” he said, describing the new classrooms as a turning point.

The Defence and Security Citizen Outreach Programme is organised annually to coincide with Liberation celebrations, bringing together security institutions and communities to implement projects that improve public services and reinforce the link between national security and socio-economic development.