applynow
applynow

Rwanda Primary School Structure

Find Primary Schools

Primary or elementary education in Rwanda is divided into two three-year cycles each, namely Primary one to three (P1 to P3) and Primary four to six (P4 to P6). Students Children generally enter primary education at the age of seven years. Kinyarwanda is the language of instruction in the first cycle, Primary one to three (P1 to P3) and then English is introduced as the sole medium of instruction in grade four upwards. Students will sit for a final examination at the end of the sixth year and successful students will gain access to secondary school.

  • Ages                            : 7-13 years
  • Grades                         : Grade 1-6
  • Duration of study       : 6 years
  • Primary Languages     : English
  • Terms                          : 3 terms
  • Admission Term          : throughout the year

Curriculum- In Rwandan primary schools, students will study seven subjects at lower primary and eight at upper primary school. These are as follows:

Lower Primary- Kinyarwanda, English, Mathematics, Social and Religious Studies, Science and Elementary Technologies, Creative Arts (Music, Fine Art, and Craft), and Physical Education.

Upper Primary-  Kinyarwanda, English, Mathematics, Social and Religious Studies, Science and Elementary Technologies, Creative Arts (Music, Fine Art, and Craft), Physical Education, and French.

Primary education in Rwanda is free and compulsory but private institutions are fee-paying.  Some of them include the following.

Green Hills Academy

This is a first-class multi-cultural, international school in Kigali. The school aims to produce principled lifelong learners equipped with the knowledge and skills to excel who will be able to Able to communicate in at least two languages, and who are self-starters with a global perspective, a strong work ethic, and respect for themselves and others. Green Hills Academy offers an international education from Nursery to the 12th Grade.

Primary school section

  • Founded: 1997
  • Address: PO BOX 6419, Kigali KG 278 St, Nyarutarama Kigali (behind the MTN Center)
  • Student population: 1500
  • Intermationall student representation 60+ countries
  • Language of instruction: English
  • Type: co-educational, non-profit
  • Accreditation: International Baccalaureate, Cognia, Label France Education

The school offers to offer an English program and a French and English program from Nursery to the 8th Grade. The English program offers tuition in English only and the English and French program tuition for half of the core subjects is offered in English and the other half in french.

Curriculum- the school uses the Cambridge Primary curriculum framework that provides a solid foundation on which the later stages of education can be built. This framework promotes an inquiry-based approach to learning to develop the students’ confidence, creativity, and intellectual engagement and covers 6 areas namely knowledge, skills, and understanding in the three strands, Reading, Writing, Speaking, and listening. The curriculum focuses on core subjects such as English, maths, science, and global perspectives. Other subjects include French as an additional language, Music, Art and PE, swimming, Health, Kinyarwanda, Traditional Dance, and ICT from Grade 2, English, French Language, Arts, and Social Studies (History and Geography).

Extra-Curricular activities- the school offers more than 35 clubs and other extracurricular activities to choose from. Primary School students can choose from a various list of primary activities including African Dance, Arts and Crafts, Football, Gymnastics, Hip-Hop Dance, Traditional Dance and Drumming, Kinyarwanda for Beginners, Percussion Music, Reading, School Choir, Swimming, and Tae Kwon Do, to mention but a  few.

Facilities- the school has a variety of state-of-the-art classrooms with projectors, a gym, a band room, boarding, a swimming pool, three ICT laboratories, a Multipurpose hall, three fully-equipped laboratories, and a Football field, to mention but a few.

Prospective students- the following are required from students who seek to apply for admission to the school:

  • the Student’s photo
  • Parents’ photo
  • Birth Certificate or Passport of the student
  • Parent ID or Passport
  • Vaccination Report
  • Report card from the previous school
  • Brief Reference letter from the previous school (Grade 5 and above)

Tuition and fees- below are the 2021-2022 Tuition and Fees for primary school. Note that A deposit of 250 000 RWF per child is due on May 1 to reserve a space for the following academic year.

Application for Admission Fee:                                              100 000

Registration Fee:                                                                     150,  00

Tuition

Rwandans                              Non-Rwandans                     Organizations

Tuition            Termly            Annual           Termly            Annual           Termly            Annual

Grades 1- 5     1 165 000        3 495 000        1 265 000        3 795 000        2 245 000        6 735 000

 

Wellspring Academy

This is one of the best schools in Kigali. The school aims to educate and equip students to become highly skilled, Godly leaders, and agents of community transformation. The academy believes that believe that each student has unique abilities and potential and hence offers a challenging curriculum that provides a foundation for all students to become enthusiastic, persistent, and competent learners.

Primary school section

  • Address: Kigali, Rwanda, KG 270 Street, Nyarutarama
  • founded: 2004
  • Grade                          : 1-6
  • Duration of study: 6 years
  • Student population: 675 (all grades)
  • International student representation: 70 Nationalities
  • Primary Languages: English
  • Terms                          : 3 terms
  • Admission Term: throughout the year
  • The primary school section here caters to children from grades 1 to 6, from the age of 6 or 7 to the age of 12 or 13. 

Curriculum- The Cambridge Assessment International Education system provides students with a quality international curriculum for grades 1 to 6. Subjects offered include English, Science, Social Studies, Maths, Bible Studies, Sports, Information and Communication Technology, Art, and Music or Band.

Facilities- Wellspring Academy has three modern well-equipped science labs, a Computer Lab, Library, an Art Room, a Music Room, two basketball courts, a soccer field, a volleyball court, The primary play area, and primary sheds for meetings and events, to mention but a few.          

Co-Curricular Activities-the academy takes pride in ensuring the well-rounded development of students and hence offers several activities including basketball, and football, to mention but a few.

 

Kigali International Community School

This is an international school in Kigali that provides a Christ-centered, US accredited primary and secondary education that challenges students to excel academically and from a biblical perspective. The school has a low student-teacher ratio and offers small group learning. The school has dedicated staff who support them academically, spiritually, and emotionally.

Primary School

  • address: KG 408 Street, Caisse Sociale Estates, Gacuriro, Kigalli, Rwanda
  • founded: 2006
  • Language of instruction: English
  • Type: coeducational
  • Terms: 3 terms
  • student population: 331
  • international student representation: 27+ nationalities
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 7:1
  • Admission Term: throughout the year
  • All Grades: Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12

Accreditation: Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools- Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS)

Academics- Primary school students here are offered a rigorous curriculum with language and mathematics learning, science, and social studies concepts. They are also provided with customized learning and Collaborate with their classmates through critical thinking and inquiry-based experiences that ensure growth in understanding of the world around them. They also learn physical education, the arts, technology, and languages

Extracurricular activities- Kigali International Community School has a thriving extracurricular program that allows for the physical education, growth, and development of each child. Students can choose from a variety of activities such as Rwandan Traditional Dance, art, basketball, football, badminton, swimming, taekwondo, field hockey, frisbee, and athletics, among others.

Facilities- The school offers several facilities including classes, green spaces, sports fields, courts, a swimming pool, and the school hall, to mention but a few.

Application for Admission- parents of prospective students should provide copies of the following documents with their registration forms:

  • Proof of birth- a Birth certificate or passport information page.
  • Passport photo
  • 2 years of school report cards (including current school year if the current grade level has not yet been completed)
  • Standardized test results
  • IEP or any special educational assessments (if applicable)
  • Proof of payment of the application fee of $300 per applicant.

How RocApply Works