French schools and French-language education in Kigali

Rwanda's schools teach in English, but many families still want French: French and Belgian expatriates, families from francophone Africa, Rwandans who grew up in French-speaking countries, and parents who simply want their children to stay bilingual. This page explains the options for French schools in Kigali as of October 2026: the French homologated school EFASE, the change at the Ecole Belge de Kigali, and bilingual alternatives. We share sourced facts only and do not rank schools.

Ecole Francophone Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (EFASE)

EFASE is Kigali's French school. Its official documents describe a francophone and multilingual education (French with English, Spanish and Kinyarwanda), homologated by the French Ministry of National Education and Youth, and part of the network of schools under agreement with the AEFE (Agence pour l'enseignement français à l'étranger). It teaches from maternelle to lycée and prepares students for the Diplôme National du Brevet and the Baccalauréat. The school's address is KN 41, Kigali.

The school was founded in 1973. It closed twice during periods of strained relations between Rwanda and France, most recently from 2006, and reopened in September 2010.

EFASE fees for 2026/27

EFASE publishes its fees in Rwandan francs, per child, payable before each term:

Level	French and Rwandan nationals	Other nationalities
Maternelle (PS to GS)	RWF 3,934,861	RWF 5,114,484
Elémentaire (CP to CM2)	RWF 4,153,743	RWF 5,400,200
Collège	RWF 6,228,944	RWF 8,096,959
Lycée	RWF 6,228,944	RWF 8,096,959

Other published charges for 2026/27 include:

• first registration fee: RWF 500,000 (non-refundable);
• file fee: RWF 50,000 (non-refundable, paid at registration);
• re-registration fee for returning students: RWF 200,000;
• school supplies: RWF 100,000 (maternelle), RWF 150,000 (élémentaire), RWF 200,000 (collège and seconde);
• lunch: RWF 2,900 to RWF 3,200 per meal depending on level;
• exam fees: about EUR 100 for the Brevet, and about USD 1,000 (Première) and USD 1,500 (Terminale) for the Baccalauréat.

EFASE admissions rules

EFASE runs registration on its EDUKA platform. For 2026/27 the main window was 14 March to 15 May 2026, with entry tests on 23 May and results on 1 June. A second window from 25 to 28 August opened only where places remained.

• Children from a French school or an AEFE homologated school are not tested, but must provide proof of enrolment, a certificate of leaving and reports from the past two years.
• Children from any other system take an entry test from CP to Première.
• There is no test for the three maternelle years. Petite Section requires the child to be 3 by 31 December and toilet trained.
• When places are short, the school applies a published priority list. Children of French civil servants come first, followed by French and then other students from French or homologated schools. Next come children of local staff at EFASE, the French Embassy and the CCFR, then French students from other systems, then siblings of current pupils, then students who sat the test the year before, and finally all other students.
• New entries into Première and Terminale are only accepted from French or homologated schools.

Because places are allocated by priority and filing date, families outside the French system should apply as early as possible in the spring window.

Ecole Belge de Kigali: what changed

The Ecole Belge de Kigali, located in Gisozi since 2018, historically followed the curriculum of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Belgium's French-speaking community. In April 2025, Rwanda's Minister of Education instructed the school to cease the Belgian programme from September 2025 and move to an alternative programme for the 2025/26 school year, amid a break in relations between Rwanda and Belgium.

If you are considering the school, ask it directly which programme it now follows, which diplomas students sit, and how this affects students who need Belgian or French recognised qualifications. We can help you put those questions to the school and compare the answers with EFASE.

Bilingual and French-friendly alternatives

If a full French programme is not essential, other routes keep French alive:

• Bilingual schools: Bright Angels International School in Nyarutarama describes itself as bilingual English and French, following Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary.
• International schools with strong French teaching: IB and Cambridge schools often teach French as a language subject. See IB schools in Kigali and British curriculum schools.
• After-school French: classes outside school can maintain reading and writing for children in English-medium schools.

Who a French school suits

• Children already in the French system who need continuity, especially for the Brevet or Baccalauréat.
• Families likely to move to another country with an AEFE school.
• Families planning for universities in France or other French-speaking countries.

If your child is moving from French into English schooling, talk to the new school about language support. For older students close to the Brevet or Baccalauréat, changing system means changing exams, so plan that decision carefully. Our international schools guide compares all curricula.

How we help French-speaking families

1. We check your child's eligibility and priority level under EFASE's rules.
2. We help you prepare the documents: proof of enrolment, leaving certificate and two years of reports.
3. We plan around the spring registration window and the entry test date.
4. We compare total costs with other options, using our school fees guide, and suggest alternatives if places are full.

Read our admissions guide for general timelines.

Ask about French schooling in Kigali

Use the form on this page to tell us your child's age, current class and school system, and your start date. We will tell you which French or bilingual options fit and what to do next.