It was around 3 p.m. on Friday, September 11, when Henriette Umukundwa received a phone call from her mother in Ruhango District, telling her that she was among the top performers in the Advanced Level national examination results announced that day. Uwukundwa, 19, was washing dishes at her sister’s home in Kigali, where she had gone to visit. “When I heard that I was among the best performers, I was very surprised. I thought it was a scam. I cried a lot, tears of joy. Then I followed the event of the release of the national exams results on YouTube. That's when I confirmed that it was true,” she told The New Times. ALSO READ: Who are the top performers in A-Level national exams? The former student of ACEJ Karama Technical Secondary School (TSS) topped in Accounting with a score of 95.23 percent. Accounting was among the Professional Education combinations. Umukundwa attributed her performance to hard work, following her teachers’ advice to work in teams and conducting extensive research. “My teachers equipped me with skills, encouraged me to do research and also to enjoy teamwork, saying that ‘one pillar doesn’t make a house’. This helped me feel that I need others as they need me, where we shared knowledge and revised together,” she said. Her favourite subjects were auditing, financial mathematics and management. She studied extensively, took notes and made summaries to improve her understanding, and paid attention during lessons. ALSO READ: 94% of A-Level candidates pass national exams She also prepared a revision timetable, identifying subjects and topics she did not clearly understand and giving them more attention. Her parents were also supportive, she said. They supported her and encouraged her to aim high in life. As a child, Umukundwa wanted to become a doctor, but her interests changed as she grew older and she became more drawn to accounting. She now plans to study accounting at university, gain more knowledge and experience, and work towards becoming a qualified accountant. “The advice I can give to others who want to perform well is to focus on their lessons and manage their time well,” Umukundwa said. “They should pay attention in class, listen to their teachers and make enough time for revision and other schoolwork. Staying focused and using their time well can help them keep up with their studies and improve their performance.” Youssouf Bisangabagabo, the headmaster of ACEJ Karama TSS, said Umukundwa was a class monitress and served as an accountant in the Adventist group. She was always among the top three students in her class and was a responsible student who was useful to the community. In her free time, the youngster enjoys reading history books and catching up with friends. Another top performer, Naomie Umunyurwa Karangwa, was with her parents when the national examination results were announced. Karangwa, 17, sat with her parents to watch the announcement, expecting to see good marks. She knew she had qualified for a diploma but did not know she had performed well enough to emerge as the top performer in the Technical Secondary School category. Karangwa scored 94.74 percent. She studied Craft and Recreational Arts at Ecole d’Arts de Nyundo in Rubavu District. As she and her parents watched the results announcement live on YouTube on September 11, Karangwa was waiting for the link to check her individual results and surprise her family. “Then, as they were reading the names of the best performers, I heard my name. I could hardly believe it,” she recalled in an interview with The New Times. “I was really shocked. I replayed that part of the programme more than five times because I could not believe it could be me. I never thought I could perform that well and take the national top position,” Her parents were equally surprised, and the three cried with joy. The results came after a year in which she relied on her usual study habits, including waking up early, revising notes and taking notes in class. But she said discipline and respect were just as important. Karangwa said respect means recognising that no matter how capable one is, there will always be something they can learn from another person. She said having this sense prevents people from seeing themselves as better than others and allows them to learn from those with abilities they may not have. She credits her parents, teachers and friends, as well as the education she received, for supporting her. “My parents always made sure that I did not lack anything I needed for school. They provided my school fees and the equipment I needed, along with parental advice that showed me the right path to success,” she said. Her teachers also supported her through classwork and practical exercises. “They tried their level best to help me, especially when I struggled. Through classwork and practical exercises, they helped me get back on my feet, develop my skills and realise my potential. Their support pushed me to work harder, and my parents continue to encourage me to pursue my ambitions,” she said. Karangwa wants to specialise in industrial design, mainly architecture and 3D art. She is interested in the detailed designs seen in some historic buildings, including relief sculptures and floral patterns. Karangwa said many modern buildings are look very minimalist and have fewer of these artistic details. She wants to bring some of that detail back into modern architectural design by creating complex designs that tell a story. Her interest in architecture has drawn her to the work of the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, whom she considers a role model. Hadid faced years of criticism over her curvaceous, and futuristic designs that were considered too radical or difficult to build, with many of her early projects remaining on paper before more of her designs were realised. Karangwa admires Hadid for continuing to pursue architecture despite the criticism she faced. The youngster advises fellow students to work hard, stay disciplined and take advice seriously, saying pressure should be seen as a privilege because it pushes people to work harder. Of the 108,406 candidates who sat the 2025/26 Advanced Level national examinations, 94.33 percent passed, Girls accounted for 55.05 percent of those who registered.
