G.S Paysannat LE, a school located in Kirehe District, continues to grapple with one of the highest student populations in Rwanda, hosting more than 10,000 learners most of whom live in the Mahama Refugee Camp.
The overwhelming numbers have forced the school to adopt a double-shift system, with some students attending classes in the morning while others study in the afternoon due to acute classroom shortages.
According to school records, 10,204 students are currently enrolled 836 in secondary school and 9,368 in primary. The institution operates with 130 teachers and 111 classrooms, some of which accommodate up to 75 learners, while the “smallest” still hold about 55 students.
A School Dominated by Refugee Learners
About 98% of the student population are refugees. Of these, 60% come from Burundi, while others originate from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan, Sudan and Ethiopia.
The high numbers come with significant logistical demands. The school prepares over 1.2 tons of maize flour per day to feed the learners.
Despite these challenges, the school continues to excel academically.
Ntamunoza Alex, the head of the school’s catchment area, says the congestion has not hindered their performance. “We achieved a 100% pass rate in national examinations. Even with the large numbers, our learners continue to perform exceptionally,” he said.
Infrastructure Gaps Remain a Major Concern
Ntamunoza highlighted several ongoing challenges especially the lack of adequate classrooms and recreational spaces. “We have thousands of children, and even if they were fewer, every child needs a place to play and develop talents. Competing in sports is difficult because we don’t have proper playgrounds,” he said, also noting the urgent need for additional classrooms.
The school receives about 2,500 new learners every year, mainly joining Primary One. According to Ntamunoza, at least 60 new classrooms are needed to allow all students to study full-time instead of alternating shifts. This would help reduce class sizes to the recommended 45 learners per classroom.
UNESCO recommends 46 students per class as the ideal ratio to support quality instruction.
Teachers and Students Share Their Struggles
Muhire Emmanuel, a teacher representative, noted the difficulty of delivering quality lessons in such crowded spaces. “Teaching dozens of children in one room is extremely challenging. We need government support to reduce this congestion,” he said.
Fifteen-year-old Akanyamuneza Ciela, a Senior Two student, said her class has 68 learners. “Some focus well, but others talk a lot and it creates noise,” she explained.
Government Pledges More Support
Minister of Education Nsengimana Joseph commended the school for maintaining strong academic performance despite the pressures, saying such institutions deserve increased support.
He also acknowledged the shortage of playgrounds and promised collaboration with the district to identify shared sports facilities. “To ensure all schools have access to recreational spaces, even if not within the school compound, we will work with local authorities to find nearby fields that multiple schools can use,” he said.
On the issue of overcrowded classrooms, the minister said the government has already begun adding assistant teachers in classes with more than 60 learners.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding school infrastructure, saying more classrooms will be built to address overcrowding across the country.
According to the Ministry of Education’s 2023/2024 education report released in March 2025, Rwanda had 4,986 schools nationwide as of July 2024, up from 4,923 the previous year.
