“I would like to extend my appreciation to students of the Islamic Secondary School for Sciences for performing well in your studies. I was informed that most of you present here performed well in national examinations,” said Amb. Alqahtani.

“I want to reiterate that the UAE is fully committed to ensure that not only its citizens should have access to the best educational opportunities, and my country in cooperation with Rwanda, is willing to give the most talented students access to higher education in internationally recognized universities in the UAE,” he added.

The ambassador delivered the message on Wednesday 10th November 2021 after holding an interactive session with students and teachers during his visit to the school located in Nyamirambo.

Amb. Alqahtani ‘s interactive discussion with students was also attended by Dr. Nelson Mbarushimana, the Director General of the Rwanda Basic Education Board and Mr. Abdellatif Aouid, the Director General of the Islamic Cultural Center.

The Ambassador also took the opportunity to share the key initiatives put in place by the UAE in advancing education not only to UAE citizens but also to Rwandans.

Since 2002, the UAE through the Al Maktoum Foundation has supported Rwanda’s education by funding two secondary schools, the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Girls Secondary School for Sciences in Muhanga and the Hamdan Bin Rashid Kimisange Secondary School. Students from these schools have been performing well in national examinations.

For the last at least 10 years, the UAE through the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation has also been 100% supporting the Islamic Secondary School for Sciences whose students have been also performing well in national examinations.

Within the framework of joint action in order to support the education sector in Rwanda, the UAE Government provided scholarships to outstanding students in different UAE universities, through the UAE Technical Assistance Program.

“The scholarship programs will enable the students to build a better future, and contribute to achieving development for their country and the local community,” said Amb. Alqahtani.

Since 2018, 20 male and female students from Rwanda received UAE Government scholarships at the UAE University in the disciplines of Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Biology, Biochemistry, and Computer Science.

Among others, 10 Rwandan students were given full scholarships to pursue bachelor’s degree programs at Sorbonne Abu Dhabi University in 2019.

In consideration of the fact that education plays a critical role in knowledge-driven economy, he commended the school for excellent performance in national examinations and reiterated his country’s commitment to provide scholarships to best performers.

The study published by the British Council in 2017, named UAE as one of the best countries when it comes to its support of international higher education.

It was established after the release of second volume of the Shape of global higher education report which analysed international higher education policies across 38 countries.

The country came second in the quality assurance and degree recognition category and fifth for openness and mobility.

The UAE has established an excellent and diversified system of higher education in a very short period.

The UAE University, founded in 1976, led higher education in the country. Since then, the UAE currently has 76 public and private institutions of higher education and they include universities, colleges and vocational & technical institutes, both local and international campuses, such as the Sorbonne Abu Dhabi University, New York University and American University of Sharjah.

The UAE Government has been providing scholarships to Rwandan students who excelled in their secondary education at some of these public and private universities such as the UAE University and Sorbonne Abu Dhabi University.

Amb. Alqahtani has urged students on academic excellence.

Amb. Alqahtani interacting with students at the Islamic Secondary School for Sciences.

Amb. Alqahtani commended Islamic Secondary School for Sciences for outstanding performance during national examinations.

One of students asking a question during an interactive session with the ambassador.