All is set as 286,087candidates prepare to sit for this year’s national primary examinations that will start next week, November 4 to 6, officials say. 

Dr Alphonse Sebaganwa, Head of Examinations, Selection and Assessment Department at Rwanda Education Board (REB), tells Educations Times that he is optimistic that the exams will go smoothly.

"All the exam materials have reached examination centres, candidates were briefed and we verified their index numbers,” Sebaganwa says.

He adds that security is guaranteed by Rwanda National Police and that invigilators were also trained to ensure that the three- day exercise is incident-free.

"Exams are protected from the beginning to the end to ensure cases of malpractices are minimized, and that there is no leakage or delays,” he added.

Educations Times’ Edwin Ashimwe asks a couple of students about their expectations for the upcoming examinations. 

Blessing Keza, 11, Kigali City School

I am very ready for the examinations. I don’t think that there is anything I have left out in the syllabus. These days our teachers spend the whole day with us in the respective subjects trying to address all challenges that we could be having. I think mathematics is the subject I’m most ready for, and I also expect to get a distinction in the examinations.

William Dusabimana, 12, Umubano Primary School

I am excited that the time has finally come for me to sit the Primary Leaving Examinations. I don’t think that I am scared because we have been revising and practicing from examinations that were set in the previous years. Secondly, I am optimistic that I will do my best in the forth-coming examinations due to my previous results. I would like to advise other students to memorise all the content that they have been taught by teachers and also try to stay focused.

Ivan Chris Ishimwe 12, Kigali City School

I feel like all is ready for me to walk into the room and pass with flying colours. In this time, I consult my teachers and friends who understand a concept more than I do. And I also feel like consulting older students in secondary school is important because in most cases, it is easy to relate to their experience.

Thiana Kanyana Teta 11, Kigali City School

I am glad I don’t have any exam fever, even though it is just a week to the exams. During my final year of primary school, I was waiting for this moment. I know that sometimes students are scared of this, but I feel ready to go out there and get excellent grades. I love the extension programmes the school has been facilitating for us to stay together at school, and I know that we will use this opportunity to perform our best.

Lorene Akimana, 11, Umubano Primary School

I believe that I am more than ready to do these exams, because my teachers have put a lot of effort these last days. With this intense revision, I know that I am going to excel, especially in social studies. I advise my colleagues to believe in themselves, especially in these last days.

Maribel Iliza 12, Umubano Primary School

I can’t wait to sit for the examinations because I want to make my teachers proud of their work. In these last days, we have been taught different techniques of passing such comprehensive examinations, and I want to use them. The other thing is that I would like to get six out of five distinctions as my minimum mark. I don’t think I am scared because I know that I am prepared.

Moses Mugabe, 12, Umubano Primary School

I am ready, but at the same time, burning the candle at both ends to see that I do even better. I spend almost the whole day asking my teachers to give me questions so that I can respond to them. My teachers have done a great job in ensuring that I am at this level today.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com