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By Clementine Nyirangaruye
Students and school leaders at Don Bosco Gatenga Technical Secondary School (TSS) on Tuesday marked International Women’s Day by highlighting progress in promoting gender equality and empowering girls in vocational and technical education.
The celebration, held at the school on March 11, 2025, featured activities recognizing the courage, resilience, and contributions of women in society. School officials also pointed to a steady increase in the number of girls enrolling in technical and vocational training programs, as well as improvements in their academic performance.
Clementine Uzamureba, the school’s Gender Officer, said the institution has recorded notable progress in encouraging girls to pursue technical studies.
“Over the past three years, since the launch of the Gender Matters for Green TVET project, the number of girls has increased significantly, and we are very pleased with this progress,” she said.
According to Uzamureba, the number of girls at the school has grown from 55 in the 2022–2023 academic year to 209 in the 2025–2026 academic year. The school currently has a total enrollment of 534 students.
In addition to increased enrollment, the school has introduced several initiatives aimed at ensuring that girls study in a safe and supportive environment.
“Among the achievements we are proud of is the improvement of infrastructure that supports girls’ education,” Uzamureba said. “This includes girls’ dormitories and a Girls’ Room, where students can manage menstrual hygiene in a safe and private space.”
She added that the school also provides counseling services to students facing family-related challenges, helping them remain focused on their studies and achieve strong academic results.
The school’s director, Father Callixte Ukwitegetse, urged students to become agents of positive change in society by valuing themselves and making responsible choices.
“We stay close to the students during study time, and we are also with them during their leisure time,” he said. “We give them the freedom that allows them to study well and feel protected. This helps them build confidence, avoid wrongdoing before it happens, and become solutions wherever they go.”
One female student in the Electrical Technology program, who requested anonymity, said the celebration strengthened her confidence and determination.
“Celebrating International Women’s Day has taught me to believe in myself and be independent,” she said. “I now understand clearly that girls are capable. Whatever a boy can do, I can also do—and even better.”
The event also featured dance and poetry performances honoring women and highlighting their role in society. Girls who scored above 80 percent in their studies were awarded prizes in recognition of their academic excellence.
This year’s celebration was held under the theme, “Empowered Women, Stronger Nation.” The event was supported by funding from the Austrian Development Cooperation and Jugend Eine Welt.
