A total of 1,097 cases of examination malpractice were recorded in 27 districts during the 2025/26 Advanced Level national examinations, the education ministry says. Speaking during the announcement of the exam results on Friday, September 11, the Minister of Education Joseph Nsengimana said candidates found to have cheated, as well as those who facilitated the malpractice, will face consequences in line with the rules governing national examinations. He also said candidates involved in malpractice at Advanced Level will not be given another opportunity to sit for a retake examination. The decision to deny retake opportunities to Advanced Level candidates involved in malpractice, he said, is based on their age and level of education. “When we gave some children from Primary Six a chance to do a retake, it was because of their age and because adults had thrown them into it. Those adults are the ones who guided them,” he said. Nsengimana said authorities will question those involved in A'Level exam cheating about their actions and ensure that they face the consequences. He noted that investigations had established that the malpractice occurred on the day of the examinations. He said the ministry would review all parts of the examination process and strengthen areas where weaknesses are identified to ensure examination integrity. Investigations have identified two categories of people involved in the malpractice: candidates who cheated and those who facilitated the cheating. He said authorities were also considering measures to strengthen supervision in examination rooms. Under the proposed measures, two invigilators will be present in each examination room, with the aim of limiting malpractice. The two invigilators will not know each other, he said. There will also be another person responsible for checking those who move into other examination rooms. Nsengimana called on members of the public to work together to fight examination malpractice, describing it as a shameful practice.
