Northern Province Intensifies School Hygiene Drive to Bolster Education and Health

MUSANZE, RWANDA—The leadership of Rwanda’s Northern Province has intensified its commitment to integrating strong hygiene and sanitation practices within the school system, asserting it as a fundamental pillar for quality education, public health, and sustainable national development.

This commitment was visibly reaffirmed on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, when the Governor of the Northern Province, Mugabowagahunde Maurice, actively engaged in a school cleanliness outreach activity at Wisdom School Musanze, located in Cyuve Sector, Musanze District.

The initiative is a key component of the national “Furesheri ku Ishuri” campaign, a school-based hygiene and sanitation awareness program designed to cultivate lifelong cleanliness habits among students, simultaneously strengthening their academic performance and social responsibility.

Governor Mugabowagahunde joined students, teachers, and school administrators for a hands-on cleaning exercise, demonstrating that hygiene promotion is a shared, hands-on responsibility, not just a high-level policy directive.

During the activity, the Governor stressed that cleanliness is a foundational value that directly influences a learner’s health, discipline, confidence, and overall academic success. “Cleanliness is not optional; it is a pillar of healthy living, effective learning, and sustainable development,” Governor Mugabowagahunde stated. “When children grow up with strong hygiene values, they become responsible citizens who contribute positively to their families, communities, and the nation at large.”

Students expressed considerable enthusiasm for the campaign, noting that the practical exercise enhanced their perception of hygiene as a daily personal and communal responsibility.

Uwase Analyse, a participating student, shared that the activity reshaped her perspective, stating, “This initiative taught us that cleanliness is everyone’s responsibility. We learned that by keeping our environment clean, we contribute to national development and environmental protection starting from where we live and study.”

Uwimana Marie Claire, a sixth-year nursing student at the school, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for hygiene to become a personal culture. “Cleanliness should be a way of life, not something done out of fear or pressure. Taking care of our bodies, clothes, and surroundings plays a major role in protecting our health,” she explained.

The students’ representative, Sendagire Isaac Prince, highlighted the social and character-building aspects of cleanliness. “When you arrive in a clean place, you immediately feel that everything else is well organized. Success is not determined by academic intelligence alone; appearance, discipline, and behavior also matter greatly in life,” he said, thanking the Governor for providing practical lessons that extend beyond the classroom.

Wisdom School’s management also affirmed its dedication to embedding hygiene education into the institution’s core values. Nduwayezu Elie, the school’s Director, described cleanliness as a fundamental pillar of student upbringing and holistic education.

“We consider hygiene a key component of holistic education. That is why we invest in activities that help students grow with these values, not only within the school compound but throughout their daily lives,” Nduwayezu noted. He also revealed plans to construct a biogas plant as part of the school’s commitment to reducing waste and environmental pollution, aiming to make Wisdom School a model for hygiene and sustainable innovation.

Governor Mugabowagahunde concluded by reiterating the effectiveness of school-based campaigns like Furesheri ku Ishuri in nurturing positive values, urging that lessons learned at school be reflected in students’ behaviour across their families and communities.

Beyond the focus on hygiene, the Governor used the platform to address broader social and educational challenges, including the prevention of teenage pregnancies, combating drug abuse, and the crucial reintegration of students who have dropped out of school. He called on local leaders to strengthen early information-sharing mechanisms to prevent school dropout before it escalates, underscoring the event with a comprehensive view of student welfare and national progress.