A total of 74,085 candidates nationwide on Wednesday, June 3, began the 2025/2026 National Practical Examinations, which are designed to assess learners’ ability to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings.

The examinations being conducted at 854 examination centres nationwide will run until June 22.

According to the National Examinations and School Supervision Authority (NESA), there are over 70,500 school-based candidates and 3,585 private candidates.

The practical examinations cover students from Technical Secondary Schools (TSS), Teacher Training Colleges (TTC), the Associate Nursing Programme (ANP), Accounting (ACCA) programmes, and Science Project-Based Assessments (PBA) in general education.

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The national launch was held at two schools, St. Joseph Integrated Technical College in Nyarugenge District and Kagarama Secondary School in Kicukiro District.

At St Joseph, Minister of Education Joseph Nsengimana emphasized the importance of practical assessments in preparing learners for the labour market.

"These examinations help us assess whether learners can put their knowledge into practice and whether they are prepared for the job market,” Nsengimana said.

The minister expressed confidence in the candidates’ preparedness, citing the government’s continued emphasis on competency-based education and practical training.

"We wish them success in their examinations. There is no need for worry if they are well prepared. Practical learning is not only about understanding concepts but also about applying them. When students succeed, it shows they are ready to contribute effectively in the workplace,” he added.

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"We use examination results to identify strengths and gaps in learning. These findings guide improvements in the education sector,” she said.

Irere added that practical examinations are essential as they allow learners to demonstrate real-life application of classroom knowledge.

She also emphasized teamwork as a key competency developed through practical learning.

Parents and school administrators were urged to support candidates by ensuring adequate rest and emotional well-being during the examination period.

"Students should not arrive for exams exhausted or anxious. They need rest, calmness and support from their families,” she said.

Commenting on the new item in the exams this year, Jean Claude Nzeyimana, the Head of the Basic Education and TVET Examinations Department, said science students in Biology, Chemistry and Physics were given one month to prepare Project-Based Assessments, compared to only a few days candidates had in last year.

"This allows students to better prepare and present their projects effectively,” he said.

Benigne Shami Rindiro, an Math Chemistry and Biology candidate, said she and her colleagues were prepared for the exams.

She highlighted teamwork as essential in completing assignments and noted that practical learning has improved creativity and innovation among students.

"We can now apply knowledge to solve problems and even create products,” she said, citing examples such as candle making and paint production.

Officials reiterated that practical examinations are part of Rwanda’s broader shift towards competency-based curriculum, which emphasizes skills, innovation, and employability across all levels of education.

Meanwhile, the practical exams are a prelude to the national exams, which are scheduled for July 15-22.