Stronger Future for Quality and Affordable Education is Taking Shape at École Bilingue La Fontaine in Rwanda
For École Bilingue La Fontaine (La Fontaine Bilingual School) the journey toward giving more children access to a better school began with a bold community response through the practical support of Opportunity International EduFinance. What started as a small school created to meet a clear local need soon faced the realities of limited leadership experience, declining enrolment, and the challenge of building parent confidence. Through the EduQuality program, the school has strengthened its systems, improved its leadership practice, and began turning early uncertainty into sustainable growth.
When Jean and Jacqueline, founders of the school, looked around their community, they saw families who wanted quality and affordable education that could prepare their children for a changing future. Motivated by that need, they established École Bilingue La Fontaine to expand access to learning for children in their community.
The school officially opened in September 2023 in a rented property with 94 learners and 4 teachers. The beginning was promising, but sustaining that promise proved difficult. The school leaders had the motivation to serve their community, yet they were still learning how to manage and grow a school. Enrolment declined to 87 learners, exposing the pressure of financial constraints, limited systems, and the need to build stronger confidence among parents and the wider community. “When we started, none of us had any background in school leadership. We were not aware of marketing and branding strategies, and we lacked confidence in our leadership,” Jean said.
The challenge, therefore, was to improve the quality and resilience of the school so that more children could remain in a better learning environment.
In June 2024, École Bilingue La Fontaine joined Opportunity International EduFinance’s EduQuality program, gaining access to a professional community that offered practical learning, peer support, and a clearer pathway for school improvement.
Among the most influential aspects of the program were the School Leadership Professional Development (SLPD) workshops. Guided by the Pathways to Excellence framework, the school began applying clearer planning processes, strengthening leadership confidence, and improving its approach to marketing, branding, inclusion, and classroom management. “We used the skills we learned in our everyday activities. We now provide extra academic support for children who struggle so they can catch up with their colleagues, while Friday afternoon debates give learners a platform to speak confidently in both French and English. This has helped increase the school’s visibility in the community.” Jean recalled.
The program also helped the school strengthen its financial management practices. “The training exposed us to financial management, which moved us to open a school account with Equity Bank and another with Goshen Finance where parents pay school fees,” Jean said. “We now have a more flexible feepaying policy that allows parents to pay in instalments, reducing pressure on families and lowering barriers to enrolment.” He added.
These changes have enabled the school to track income and expenditure more transparently, budget more effectively for salaries, maintenance, rent, and daily operational needs, and make decisions with greater confidence.
With stronger leadership systems in place, the school has also prioritized the recruitment of qualified teachers, addressing one of its earliest operational gaps. Today, École Bilingue La Fontaine has 9 trained teachers, 3 administrative staff, including the headteacher and an accountant, the principal, and 6 support staff covering cleaning, security, and catering.
Enrolment has risen from 94 learners to 217, reflecting a renewed confidence in the school’s direction and its ability to provide a more stable learning environment.
The school has also taken practical steps to sustain its operations through school fees, uniform sales, and a canteen that sells stationery. These income streams have helped cover salaries, teaching aids, and other essential costs, while the school has secured a long-term rental agreement for its current building for 10 years beginning September 2025.
For a school that began with strong motivation but limited leadership experience, École Bilingue La Fontaine’s progress demonstrates how targeted support, stronger systems, and disciplined financial practices can help school leaders create better learning environments for more children. Its journey reflects Opportunity EduFinance’s mandate to support affordable non-state schools so they can grow sustainably and help more children access quality education.