It was around 3 p.m. on Monday, August 18, when a call from the Ministry of Education reached the parents of Gloria Brave Impano, informing them that their daughter had excelled in the 2024/2025 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE). At that moment, Impano was at church praying, while her parents were at home. ALSO READ: Top performers in national exams share secrets behind their success When she returned, they shared the news with her, and she was filled with excitement. Impano was told to report to the offices of Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB) the following day to attend the ceremony for the official release of the results. At the REB offices, surrounded by fellow top performers, officials, and journalists, she faced the cameras for the first time. She described the moment as unexplainable, reflecting all the hard work she had put in. ALSO READ: National exams: Over 75% pass PLE, 64% pass O-Level “I put in a lot of effort, studied hard, and got all the assistance I needed from both my parents and teachers,” she said. The 13-year-old, who attended New Excellence Academy in Bugesera District, scored 98.8 percent, ranking second nationwide. “Since Primary One, I was always among the top three in class,” she noted. When asked what motivated her, she explained that she has always dreamed of becoming a doctor, particularly a surgeon, and believes that excellence is the key to achieving the goal. The ambition stems from her observation of Rwanda’s health sector, which has a shortage of skilled surgeons. “I saw that there are few highly skilled surgeons. I want to be among them so that we can save lives and reduce the number of Rwandans who travel abroad for treatment, which is time-consuming and costly,” she said. According to recent data, Rwanda has approximately 162 surgeons, far below the World Health Organization’s recommended standard of 1,400 surgeons for a population of 13 million. This means Rwanda’s surgeon density stands at about 0.9 per 100,000 people, considerably lower than the recommended 20 per 100,000. At school, Impano actively participated in class discussions, while at home, she studied independently. She practiced with past exam papers provided by her teachers, and whenever she encountered difficult topics, she wrote down questions to clarify with her teachers later. For her, academic success is rooted not only in studying but also in discipline. She explained that while a strong academic focus is essential, maintaining good behaviour is equally important. Being the firstborn with two younger brothers, she wants to set an example for them. Her advice to other students is that success stems from preparation, hard work, and learning from one's failures. Impano’s father, Xavier Francoise Semana, a teacher, said they had supported their daughter throughout her studies. “We followed up on her homework, assisted whenever needed, and checked with her teachers on her performance and any challenges she faced. We advised Impano to use her time wisely and gave her everything necessary. We will continue supporting her to ensure she achieves her dream of becoming a surgeon,” he said.
