Kirehe District has emerged as the best-performing district in national examinations for the second consecutive year, recording the highest pass rates in both Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) and Ordinary Level (O-Level).

The results announced by the Ministry of Education on Thursday, August 20, showed that more than 99 per cent of candidates in Kirehe passed the PLE, while the district recorded a 99.98 per cent pass rate in O-Level.

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Ngoma District ranked second in the PLE with a 95.27 per cent pass rate, followed by Musanze at 93.9 per cent. In O-Level, Musanze came second with 96.63 per cent, followed by Karongi at 94.77 per cent.

A total of 277,452 candidates sat the PLE. Girls accounted for 55.6 per cent of the candidates. 149,533 candidates were registered for the O-Level national examinations.

The results come as the number of candidates increased significantly compared with the previous academic year, with the government saying overall performance also improved.

The Minister of State for Education, Claudette Irere, attributed the improvement to efforts by learners, teachers and parents.

ALSO READ: National exams: NESA to announce results for primary, O-Level

"We thank the students for their hard work, as well as teachers and parents for helping the students prepare,” Irere said.

She said the number of candidates increased by more than 50,000 compared with the previous year, partly due to the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in the suspension of schooling.

"Despite the increase in numbers, performance also increased,” Irere said.

However, she noted that the rise in the number of learners could put pressure on the distribution of students among schools, particularly because school capacity has not increased at the same pace.

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The Ministry also reported cases of examination malpractice, including cheating.

Irere said candidates who were caught cheating had been punished, while the results of some candidates suspected of malpractice were withheld as investigations continue.

PLE performance

A total of 276,579 candidates sat the PLE from 3,895 schools.

According to Bernard Bahati, Director General of National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA), 82.21 per cent of candidates passed the examination, with girls recording an 87.1 per cent pass rate compared with 89.59 per cent for boys.

Bahati said the national performance improved compared with the previous year.

The district ranking showed Kirehe at the top with more than 99 per cent, followed by Ngoma at 95.27 per cent and Musanze at 93.9 per cent.

Rusizi, Karongi, Nyamasheke, Nyanza, Kayonza, Rubavu and Rulindo were also among the better-performing districts.

At the bottom of the PLE ranking were Nyamagabe at 81.45 per cent, Gisagara at 81.72 per cent and Gasabo at 82.23 per cent.

O-Level results

At O-Level, 149,015 candidates sat the examinations, with 85.70 per cent passing.

Boys recorded an 89.8 per cent pass rate, while girls recorded 82.63 per cent.

The national pass rate was a significant improvement from the 64 per cent recorded the previous year.

Kirehe led the district ranking with 99.98 per cent, followed by Musanze at 96.63 per cent and Karongi at 94.77 per cent.

Rusizi, Nyagatare, Rutsiro, Rulindo, Nyaruguru, Rubavu and Kayonza were among the other districts with strong performances.

Nyarugenge recorded the lowest O-Level pass rate at 71.41 per cent, followed by Gasabo at 74.63 per cent and Gakenke at 76.37 per cent.

Bahati said NESA had also assessed learner performance through tests administered during the school year, rather than relying solely on national examinations.

He said the assessment was intended to provide a broader picture of learning outcomes and help identify challenges earlier.

He added that the assessment also looked at the practice of learners repeating classes before sitting national examinations, particularly in Primary 5 and Senior 3.

Boarding school placements

The results will also determine the placement of learners in boarding schools.

NESA said 17,412 learners were placed in boarding schools based on their examination scores, school capacity and the choices made by candidates.

At Senior 4 level, 18,944 learners in general education, 26,098 in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and 7,497 in professional education were placed in boarding schools.

Bahati said the placement process took into account both learner performance and school capacity.

The government will also use performance in school-based assessments to inform decisions on learner progression and placement, with the aim of ensuring that national examinations do not become the only measure of learning.

Performance before national exams

The assessment of learner performance showed differences between districts in tests administered before national examinations.

In tests conducted from Primary 4 to Primary 6, Kicukiro recorded the highest performance at 83 per cent, followed by Gasabo and Nyarugenge, both at 82 per cent.

Kayonza, Rwamagana, Kirehe, Kamonyi and Ngoma were among districts that also performed strongly.

Burera recorded the lowest performance at 62 per cent, followed by Gakenke at 70 per cent and Muhanga at 71 per cent.

At O-Level, in assessments from Senior 1 to Senior 2 and the national examination in Senior 3, Kayonza recorded the highest performance at 88 per cent, followed by Kirehe at 86 per cent and Rusizi at 85 per cent.

Gakenke and Nyarugenge recorded the lowest performance, both at 75 per cent.

The comparison of these results is expected to help education authorities identify districts and schools that need additional support before learners reach national examination classes.