The Rwanda National Police (RNP) and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) have begun constructing 15 classrooms at GS Rwankuba in Kinyinya Sector, Gasabo District, in a move aimed at reducing overcrowding at the school.
Once completed, the project is expected to reduce the number of students per classroom from 90 to 58.
The initiative forms part of the 2026 Defence and Security Citizen Outreach Programme, (DSCOP26) an annual campaign through which the RDF and RNP work alongside communities to improve citizens’ welfare.
This year’s activities were officially launched nationwide on March 9, 2026.
In the City of Kigali, the programme kicked off with the construction of the 15 classrooms at GS Rwankuba.
The project will also introduce nursery classes at the school, which previously lacked early childhood education facilities, while further easing congestion in existing classrooms.
Umuhire Josee, a parent living near the school, welcomed the initiative, describing it as vital for their children’s education.
“Previously, our children had to travel long distances to attend school far from here. The only nearby options were private schools, which many parents could not afford. We are therefore very happy that the Police and the Defence Force are building these classrooms and solving this problem for us. I thank them very much, and above all I thank the President of the Republic who sends them to support us,” she said.
The head teacher of GS Rwankuba, Siborurema Tito, said the absence of nursery classes had been a major challenge for both the community and teachers.
“Because we did not have nursery education here, children would start Primary One without basic foundational skills. Teachers had to begin by teaching them how to draw lines and write, things they should already know. This made the teaching process more difficult and delayed the learning programme,” he explained.
The school currently has more than 2,000 students studying in only 24 classrooms.
According to Siborurema, the new infrastructure will significantly ease congestion and improve the learning environment.
“We are very pleased with these classrooms being built for us. Twelve of them will reduce overcrowding in both primary and secondary levels. Currently, we have 2,121 students sharing just 24 classrooms, nearly 90 children per class. This makes it difficult for teachers to properly monitor each learner, which can affect their academic performance. We therefore thank our Police and Defence Force for providing these much-needed classrooms,” he said.
Once completed, the number of students per classroom is expected to drop to 58, excluding three classrooms that will be dedicated to nursery education.
Speaking during the launch of the outreach activities in the Western Province, the Inspector General of the Rwanda National Police, Felix Namuhoranye, said protecting the country goes hand in hand with improving the wellbeing of citizens.
“Safeguarding national security must go together with improving the welfare of Rwandans. That is why we have chosen practical initiatives that directly impact people’s daily lives and keep citizens at the centre of our efforts,” he said.
The Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimana, commended the RDF and RNP for supporting efforts to improve the quality of education.
“When we build schools, we reduce overcrowding and create better learning conditions for children, which ultimately improves the quality of education. This also contributes to preventing crime because a well-educated child develops discipline and becomes an asset to their family and the nation,” he said.
The construction of classrooms and sanitation facilities at GS Rwankuba is estimated to cost Rwf 360.2 million, while activities under the 2026 Defence and Security Citizen Outreach Programme across the country will require more than Rwf 2.5 billion.
