Nine students with disabilities were among the top 36 in a writing competition organized by the Kigali Public Library(KPL). This competition attracted students from various primary and secondary schools.
Denise Mushimiyimana , a student at the Institute for Blind Children Kibeho located in Nyaruguru district, is one of the students with disabilities who scooped the awards.
After receiving the award of a modern smartphone, which she won in the Ordinary Level secondary category, Mushimiyimana said that she wrote a story about a place to visit which is related to Rwandan culture.
She stated, “My story was titled ‘I Returned Home Joyfully.’ It included a child describing their visit to the Huye Museum and the Royal Palace in Nyanza.”
Jean Paul SEKA, who leads a project aimed at empowering children with disabilities at the National Union of Disability Organizations in Rwanda (NUDOR), said that the awareness campaigns by the government on inclusive education are encouraging people with disabilities to confidently compete alongside others.
“We are pleased because it shows that the Kigali Public Library (KPL) has put effort in encouraging everyone, including those with disabilities. It demonstrates that a child with a disability should not just sit in a classroom but also compete, as children with different disabilities have shown.”
The Director General of the Rwanda Basic Education Board, Dr. Nelson Mbarushimana, stated that the goal in education is for a child to complete the first three years of primary school being able to read, write, and count.
He emphasized that such competitions continue to sharpen Rwandan children’s knowledge and skills.
He emphasized that the competitions are inclusive as they also attract students with disabilities who participated in the competition and won awards. He encouraged all schools to participate without any hesitation.
“You have seen that even those with visual impairments have received awards, which means that having a disability does not prevent you from contributing meaningfully,” he said.
“This is why we want to remind parents who have children with different disabilities that they are also able and shouldn’t be left behind,” he added.
The Kigali Public Library began organizing this competition in 2021. KPL explains that the primary aim of this competition is to enhance creative writing skills among Rwandan students while raising awareness about different issues faced by the society. Each year, students are given a specific topic to write about, which is intended to educate and inform the Rwandan community about important matters.
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