PLE, O-Level results: Best candidates outline their aspirations

The best performing candidates in the 2018 primary and lower secondary school national examinations have shared their secret to success as well as career aspirations. The results were released yesterday by the Ministry of Education. Unlike in the past years when the ministry used to announce the best performing schools, in 2018 it opted for publishing the names of the candidates. The best twenty candidates were awarded with laptops to facilitate their studies. In Ordinary Level, eight out of the 10 best candidates are girls. In primary, the performance was even but their aspirations vary. Their dreams range from being pilots, to addressing society’s most pressing healthcare issues and tackling poverty through development economic approaches. ORDINARY LEVEL Christian Ishimwe The 15 year old was the best performing student. He is a student of Ecole des Sciences de Byimana. The school is based in Muhanga District. Talking about what enabled him not only to excel but to emerge the best in the country, he cited hard work, self-confidence and reading a lot of books. “I was the third best performer in Primary Leaving Examinations, and I set the goal to be the best in O-Level exams,” he said. Ishimwe wants to pursue Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM) combination in advanced secondary school in order to achieve his ambition of becoming an engineer. “With engineering, I want to develop machinery with technology, that can ease the way things (activities) have been being done in order to help people speed up development agenda,” he said. Ora Gratia Rutayisire A student of Maranyundo Girls School in Nyamata Sector of Bugesera District, Rutayisire was the second best performer in Ordinary Level. The jubilant 16 year old told The New Times that: “God helped me, protected me, my parents looked after me, and teachers educated us well.” She is torn between pursuing engineering and economics. “We have economic issue in Africa, once I become an economist, I can play my role in developing Africa’s economy,” Economics can help in addressing issues affecting the continent, she said, citing well-organised tax administration in Rwanda, which can grow revenues However, she said, she also has the ability to become an engineer, which can help her play a role in construction. Marie Claire Kerie Izere Uwonkunda Fifteen year old student of Groups Scolaire Notre Dame du Bon Conseil in Gakenke District was the eighth on the list of the 50 best performer students countrywide. She aspires to become a doctor. Her favourite subjects are physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics. “My success was a result of studying hard, following advice from teachers and school leaders. I want to be a medical doctor,” she said. IN PRIMARY Ishema Blessing Gianna Ishema, 12, from Kigali Parents School was the best performing pupil countrywide. While she is undecided yet on what she wants to focus on in future, she said Mathematics and sciences are the subjects she loves the most. “I studied with an aim to get the first place in the country and that helped me to work insistently so that I achieve my target. Sometimes I did research to get knowledge beyond what the teacher taught us in class,” she said. Yves Hakizimana Hakizimana said that he a lot of research, which meant studying hard during the night while some of his colleagues were sleeping “I want to become a pilot. I am good at mathematics,” said the 11 year old. Cyiza Kenny Debrice Twelve year old is a pupil at Saint Andre Gitarama. He said: “I followed in school, researched to get more knowledge and asked for explanations.” He says that she wants to study harder and pursue a career in Information and Communications Technology (ICT). He says that he draws his inspiration from Zipline, a company that deploys drones to supply blood across rural Rwanda. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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PLE, O-Level results: Best candidates outline their aspirations