Thirty secondary school students were awarded in the inaugural ORATOR National English Competition on Sunday, July 19, after months of a race that tested not only their command of the language but also their confidence, critical thinking and public speaking skills. They emerged top of 120 finalists in the competition organised by the Ministry of Education. The winners will travel to the United Kingdom for a two-week English immersion programme. More than two million students participated in the nationwide competition. ALSO READ: Inside Rwf32bn plan to boost teachers’ English proficiency The competition targeted learners in public and government-aided secondary schools, with the aim of improving spoken English, public speaking, leadership and critical thinking skills. The winners, 15 from Ordinary Level and 15 from Advanced Level, will spend two weeks in the UK through a programme supported by the British Embassy, Education First, RwandaAir. All 120 national finalists will receive full year’s school fees, recognising their outstanding performance in the competition. Speaking at event, Minister of Education Joseph Nsengimana described all finalists as winners, noting that reaching the national stage was already a remarkable achievement. “You are the top 120 out of over two million students. Hold your heads high and be proud of what you have achieved,” he told the finalists. He encouraged those who were not among the 30 winners to return stronger next year instead of being discouraged. ALSO READ: English tests: why teachers face possible dismissal “For the 30 winners, this is more than a reward. It is an opportunity to continue learning in an immersive English environment. Make the most of it because mastering English helps students understand all the subjects they study, not just the language itself,” he said. The minister said the initiative complements the government’s efforts to improve English proficiency among both learners and teachers. He said that the programme will be expanded in future editions, by establishing English clubs in schools and debate competitions. For Anabella Mutara, 17, a student at Lycée Notre Dame de Cîteaux, the victory came as a surprise. “I didn’t expect to win, so I’m really happy,” she said. “The boot camp gave me confidence because I met supportive facilitators, judges and fellow students. By the time I stood on stage, I felt much more comfortable.” Mutara encouraged other young people to embrace English willingly rather than seeing it as an obligation. “Practice it every day and don’t be discouraged by mistakes. Every journey has obstacles, but what matters is getting back up and continuing. That’s how you improve,” she said. ALSO READ: Winners of a debate competition to have free English courses by Cambridge Jean de Dieu Mbonimpaye, an 18-year-old student at ES Rusumo, said the competition changed the way he viewed both learning and leadership. “I made friends, but I also learnt to respect different perspectives. No matter how good you think you are, there’s always something to learn from others,” he said. He added that the experience strengthened his confidence in speaking English and inspired him to aim for international public speaking competitions. “I’ve realised that my ideas matter. This programme has improved my speaking skills, but more importantly, it has given me confidence to use my voice,” he said. According to the Ministry of Education, ORATOR National English Competition was introduced as a national platform to help learners build confidence in the language of instruction, while developing communication, thinking and leadership skills. The competition began at school level before progressing through sector, district and national rounds. During the national boot camp, finalists received training in speech writing, argument development, presentation techniques and critical thinking. Speaking at the event, Minister of Youth and Arts Abdallah Utumatwishima praised the programme for preparing young people to seize opportunities in an increasingly connected world. He described English as “the language of business and a gateway to countless opportunities” and commended the Ministry of Education for investing in communication skills that will benefit Rwanda’s future workforce. He also encouraged young people across the country to take part in holiday youth programmes that combine civic education, recreation and personal development.
