Ministers Kick Off School Sports Season, Urge Students to Balance Learning and Sports

The ceremony was attended by Minister of Education Joseph Nsengimana, Minister of Sports Nelly Mukazayire, senior school sports officials, and representatives from national sports federations.

Minister Nsengimana emphasized that sports and studies complement each other and that students can excel in both. “The reason the Ministries of Education and Sports have come together is to remind you that these two things go hand in hand. You can study and play sports, but it is important to do both,” he said.

He added that the event was also meant to show students that the government values their talents and is committed to nurturing them. “This year, the Ministries and federations agreed that it is important to open the sports year together so that you, the students, see that we care and are ready to support you,” he said.

State Minister in the Ministry of Sports, Rwego Ngarambe, highlighted plans to strengthen sports talent development. “We are prepared to invest fully, increasing the number of sports teachers in schools and providing technical support through federations, including training camps and continuous teacher development,” he said.

Former national football team captain Haruna Niyonzima, who rose through school sports, encouraged officials to involve skilled personnel and improve infrastructure to ensure young talents thrive. “I thank the leaders who have invested in school sports. Our achievements started in schools, and to develop talents, infrastructure and qualified mentors are essential,” he said.

Students attending the launch expressed excitement at the ministers’ presence, seeing it as recognition of the value of school sports. Basketball player Manzi Brain said, “It is inspiring to see the Education and Sports Ministers attend. This shows that sports in schools are valued. I aim to perform well this year to develop my talent.”

Football player Gatesi Uwase Neema added, “Launching the sports year with senior leaders shows that girls are equally supported in sports. I am motivated to continue training and bring pride to my school.”

The school sports program will run from the sector to national level, with top-performing schools representing Rwanda in FEASSA competitions. Events include football, volleyball, basketball, handball, athletics, swimming, karate, judo, taekwondo, sitting volleyball, table tennis, rugby, beach volleyball, and three-on-three basketball. The season is scheduled to conclude in May 2026.