Gabriel UZABAKIRIHO
Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare has been crowned the national champion of the First Lego League (FLL), while Ecole des Sciences Byimana triumphed in the AI Hackathon challenge during the grand finale held on Sunday, March 2, at Intare Conference Arena.
In the international FLL category, Queen’s College Nigeria secured the championship title.
A significant highlight of this year’s competition was the inclusion of students with special needs for the first time. The Educational Institute for the Blind in Kibeho participated and won the Innovative Project Award, marking an important step toward inclusivity in STEM education.
As a reward for their success, the national FLL champions will represent Rwanda at the international competition in the United States, while the AI Hackathon winners will compete in Switzerland. All winning teams were also awarded laptops to support their continued learning and innovation.
Empowering Students Through Robotics and AI
The FLL programme is a globally recognized initiative that challenges students to address real-world problems through research, innovation, and hands-on robotics programming. Meanwhile, the AI Hackathon introduces secondary school students to artificial intelligence, equipping them with practical skills to solve challenges and encouraging them to explore careers in STEM fields.
Minister of Education Joseph Nsengimana emphasized the importance of these competitions in fostering innovation and practical learning.
“The primary goal of these challenges is to help students apply their knowledge. By building and programming robots using LEGO kits, they not only develop coding skills but also gain exposure to artificial intelligence,” Nsengimana stated.
However, he acknowledged that the limited availability of robotics kits in schools remains a major challenge.
“Our aim is to involve more schools, but acquiring enough kits is still an issue. In schools where the programme is implemented, students take it seriously and develop highly relevant skills,” he noted.
To address this challenge, the government is exploring the possibility of manufacturing the kits locally. “Producing these kits in Rwanda would lower costs and enable more schools to participate in these competitions,” he added.
Innovative Student Projects Making an Impact
Ellie Mugabire Isheja, a student from Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare, shared insights about his team’s winning FLL project—an unmanned underwater vehicle designed for real-time exploration.
“Our project is a small robotic device that collects and transmits data about underwater conditions. It has a camera for visuals and sensors that support research and exploration,” Isheja explained.
He expressed excitement over their victory, noting that the experience would help them deepen their knowledge in robotics. “Winning this competition is a huge achievement. It will enhance our skills and contribute to technological progress in Rwanda,” he said, adding that the laptops they received would support their research and coding efforts.
Axel Ganza, from Ecole des Sciences Byimana and a member of the AI Hackathon-winning team, described their AI-powered agricultural tool aimed at assisting farmers.
“Our project helps farmers combat crop diseases by using AI-based image analysis. Farmers can upload a photo of an affected plant, and the AI system diagnoses the disease, providing treatment recommendations, weather updates, and other agricultural insights,” Ganza explained.
He thanked the government for introducing the programme, which allows students to apply AI to solve real-world problems.
With Rwanda increasingly focusing on STEM education, these competitions not only inspire young innovators but also pave the way for a future where technology-driven solutions address national and global challenges.
