Last year’s national O-Level and Primary Leaving Examinations were released yesterday indicating a general improvement in performance. In O-Level, the pass rate was at 89.9 per cent, a slight increase compared to the previous year, where the pass rate stood at 89 per cent. The general pass rate in Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) in 2017 was 86.3 per cent up from 85.4 per cent in 2016 The improvement is a big boost in efforts aimed at transforming the country’s education sector, which has been undergoing reforms over the years. Indeed, these reforms are beginning to bear fruit. However, despite these strides, it is not yet time to celebrate. Instead, this should motivate all stakeholders to intensify efforts to achieve the projections in the sector – both short and long term. The good performance is also a vote of confidence in Rwandan schools. The improvement is an indicator that schools are now equipping learners with the right knowledge and skills. Now, that the education reforms are taking shape, Rwandans should take advantage of the country’s education system to ensure that every child has access to education. Also, both the high pass rate and increase in the number of students who sat the exams are an indicator that Rwanda is determined to ensure universal access to education. During the release of results, Education officials attributed the increase in the number of candidates who sat the exams to increased access to the country’s education system. Going forward, more campaigns should be undertaken to ensure that no child in Rwanda misses out on the right to stay in school, especially in rural areas where some parents keep their children home to engage in labour. However, more important is the need to fast-track the competency-based curriculum for nursery, primary and secondary education. This will help in ensuring that the new curriculum fully serves its objective.
