At least 7,756 candidates registered for last year’s Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) but, for some reasons, did not sit the examinations. Top of this rather awkward figure was Musanze District with 556 absentee candidates, followed by Karongi District with 497, Nyagatare District with 448 and Gatsibo District with 426. While releasing the results at Rwanda Education Board offices in Kigali yesterday, the State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Olivier Rwamukwaya, said, “some students disappeared on the day of the examinations yet it is important for everyone to participate if we are to get a clear picture for the country’s progress.” However, the results show improvement in general pass rate of candidates, with 84.82 per cent passing, up from 84.5 per cent in the 2014 examinations. From a total of 160,357 candidates (88,359 girls, 71,998 boys), the general pass rate represented 136,007 candidates (74,357 girls, 61,650 boys). Rwamukwaya speaks to the media yesterday. Janvier Ismael Gasana, the director-general of Rwanda Education Board, said there are other factors that led to candidates missing their exams, but a detailed analysis would be made to examine the causes. “We have to carry out an analysis to identify why students did not sit for exams. Some of the reasons could be diseases which are unavoidable but there could as well be other factors,” Gasana said. There was also an increase in the cases of malpractices recorded in last year’s examinations compared to the previous year with 455 cases, up from 89. Of these, 406 were assisted malpractices, while 45 were as a result of impersonation, the education board said. While vowing to crack a whip on increasing malpractices, Rwamukwaya said cheats are resorting to new strategies. “Malpractices have increased but, unlike before where most of them were external in nature, this year they are dominated by invigilators who tried to help the students. We need everyone’s involvement to stop this, students should earn their grades,” he said. For the third successive year, the examinations body has not ranked schools. Rwamukwaya speaks during the launch of PLE and O-Level results yesterday. Emmanuel Muvunyi, the deputy director-general in charge of examinations at REB, maintained that display of performance would continue with assessment through an entire distribution. “It is part of the fight against malpractices and, secondly, when you rank according to grades, you miss the whole picture. We have to do so only if the analysis looks at an entire distribution,” Muvunyi said. Senior One students are expected to report to their respective schools on February 2 when schools open for the new academic year. ********************************* Best Primary Six candidates with 5 aggregates Divin Lionnele Dushimimana. - Bugesera district. Audrey Divine Sheja. - Kicukiro Christian Ishimwe. - Muhanga Edwin Munyangeyo. - Kicukiro Ange Umukunzi. - Muhanga Mireille Ngamije. - Kicukiro Ange Noella Cyuzuzo. - Muhanga Ora Gratia Rutayisire. - Bugesera Angel Dusingize. - Kicukiro Eric Ndinayo. - Musanze Ghyslaine Dushime. - Gasabo Uwase Benitha Uwumugisha. - Muhanga Ange Bertin Izere . - Nyarugenge Etienne Kagaba Shingiro. - Kicukiro Omeri Gislain Ishimwe. - Kirehe Carine Asante Musangabatware. - Gasabo Benitha Tuyishime. - Gasabo Divin Irakiza. - Musanze Peace Ikibasumba. - Bugesera Angela Shimwe. - Kicukiro Scovia Yukuri Mangara. - Gasabo Enock Nshimiyimana. - Kicukiro joao Claudio Shema. - Gasabo Paola Marie Merci Gihozo . - Gasabo Gilbert Muramirabagabo. - Gasabo Orlyse Ineza. - Nyarugenge Paul Bizima. - Gasabo sarah Irakoze. - Bugesera Eliza Cynthia Akaliza. - Kicukiro Serge Edmond Harindintwari. - Kicukiro Gretta Nadette Ineza Nsengimana. - Kicukiro Aimable Gatanazi. - Bugesera editorial@newtimes.co.rw
