Turkish school opens in Kigali

Stevenson Mugisha

The premises of Hope Kids Academy
The New Times / Timothy Kisambira.

Hope Kids Academy, an international Turkish school, has opened its branch in the country under a Rwandan-Turkish framework.

The school is located in Nyarutarama, Gasabo District.

Speaking with The New Times yesterday, Isa Gokturk Yilmaz, the Headmaster of the school, said studies will commence on October 8, adding that from Nursery one to two, each kid will be paying a registration fee of Rwf125, 000, and tuition of Rwf1.3 million per term.

Foreign students will pay a tuition fee of Rwf1.136, 000, he added.

He added that Rwandan pupils, from Primary one to three, will be paying Rwf1.4 million per term in tuition, while foreign pupils will pay Rwf1, 460,000.

"The idea is to give Rwandan children an international exposure, but ensure they retain their culture," Yilmaz said.

He said the school will be offering Cambridge primary International programme with a strong emphasis on science, Mathematics, ICT teaching with smart boards.

The school, which will use English as a medium of instruction, has already recruited 11 teachers, will also teach several languages including French and Turkish.

According to the schools administration, each nursery and primary class will have between eight and 12 pupils.

Yilmaz the decision to open the school came after a visit to Turkey by President Paul Kagame earlier this year. "The two countries enjoy a brotherly relation".

Rwanda and Turkey last month signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that provides for a cooperation framework between the two countries.

The MOU was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Louise Mushikiwabo and the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey, Besir Atalay, during the latter's visit to Rwanda. Although its tuition means the school will be out of reach for the overwhelming majority of Rwandans, ordinary people have welcomed the development. Albert Ndemezo, a resident of Kacyiru in Kigali, said the new school will contribute to the development of the country's education sector.

He said more international businesses should invest in the country.

Published on The New Times, 17 August 2012, Friday