The students, with the aid of viewing filters, occasionally looked at the sky and followed the slow and gradual process that began at 8:45 a.m. till 12:22 p.m. local time.
Addressing hundreds of enthusiastic students, who thronged the University of Rwanda’s College of Education, Phenias Nkundabakura, a specialist in astronomy, explained that solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the sun and earth, blocking the sun’s rays and casting a shadow on earth.
During the solar eclipse process, the eclipse gives way to observe the atmosphere of the sun.
Nkundabakura noted that the explanation was aimed to avoid what looks as a mystery of science to some.
Jean Pierre Twagirayezu, a physics teacher at Saint Paul International School, likened the lesson to a laboratory where students observe what they are taught theoretically.
“It is complicated to teach sciences to students without prior knowledge about a certain field. Teaching them about something they have viewed eases our work,” he said.
Jeannette Kabanyana, a Senior Three student, said it was a good learning experience.
“I had studied the theory bit of it, but had never seen, Today I have seen it and I can even explain to those who have not got chance to view,” the student said.
Across Kigali, about 2,000 eclipse glasses were distributed in different schools, and some 10,000 students in Rwandan schools viewed the solar eclipse. Enditem
Source: Xinhua/News Ghana
