Highlights

• 45,957 candidates sat the exams compared to 30,788 in the previous year. A total of 40,957 passed compared to 27,329 in the previous year, a 49.9 per cent increase.
• Boys performed better than their female counterparts, with 51 per cent pass rate.
• Low prevalence of malpractice, with only five cases registered compared to 39 in 2013.

There was a significant rise in the number of candidates who passed the 2014 Advanced Level Examinations compared to previous years, according to results released, yesterday, by Rwanda Education Board (Reb).

In last year’s exams, a total of 40,957 candidates passed compared to 27,329 in the previous year, a 49.9 per cent increase.

There was also a rise in the number of candidates who sat the examinations, with 45,957 last year compared to 30,788 in the previous year.

The increase in the number of students who sat examinations could partly be attributed to the more than doubling of the A-Level schools countrywide, from 303 in 2013 to 713 last year.

The results were announced by the new Reb Director-General, Janvier Gasana, who assumed office on Tuesday.

Reb officials attributed the increase of candidates to the success of the 12-Year Basic Education programme, which was introduced in 2012, noting that it had not only increased quality but also access to education.

Girls performed almost at par with their male counterparts, with pass rates of 49 per cent and 51 per cent, respectively.

Officials said there was a low prevalence of examination malpractice, with only five cases registered compared to 39 in the previous year.

In 2012, results for 574 A-Level candidates were cancelled for alleged malpractice.

Emmanuel Muvunyi, the deputy director-general in charge of examinations at Reb, said the irregularities reported last year were all minor cases – mostly copying – that did not involve any complex techniques.

"Before the exams, we organised and held meetings with district authorities, such as mayors, security officials and heads of institutions to inform their understanding of what falls in the category of malpractices and consequences they would bear,” Muvunyi said.

New system continues in A-Level

As is the new norm, schools were not listed alongside the best performing students, neither were they ranked in order of their general performance.

Officials have previously argued that previous ranking that showed top performing schools and districts encouraged exam malpractices as schools and districts sought to outdo each other.

However, Gasana said Reb’s move was more about avoiding instances of schools claiming credit for students’ performance without necessarily contributing much to it.

He added that Reb would further analyse the results to inform future policies and strategies to improve quality of education.

State Minister for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Albert Nsengiyumva, said the ministry would continue to improve quality as well as girls’ general performance.

The release of the results will be followed by the process of applications and admission to the University of Rwanda, which is now being handled by the higher learning institution as opposed to Reb as it was in the past.

The University of Rwanda requires students who studied science combinations to have obtained two principal passes (a minimum of 2 points each), totaling 24 marks minimum, while those who want arts and humanities, education and business faculties, must have obtained two principal passes totaling at least 18 points.

Every applicant will also be required to have obtained a pass in General Paper, and a certificate in English proficiency.

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