The Rwanda National Examination Council (RNEC) is confident that last year’s changes in the setting of exams will not affect new candidates. This was revealed Tuesday in an interview by John Rutayisire, the RNEC Executive Secretary.

The body advised government in 2006 on what should be taught in schools by setting standard exams on the subject curricula for schools throughout the country.

About the expected students’ performance in 2008 after the changes, Rutayisire was certain the preparations are appropriate for better results.

Rutayisire said that analytical questions were chosen in order to encourage students achieve a maximum rational answering style level.

He noted that the proposed analytical exams setting would be a suitable way to assess the capacity of students to think academically on current and historical issues.

According to Rutayisire, changes in the final national exams setting could take more years to implement, following a review initiated last year.

He said that one of the reasons for changing the exam structure is because of the pressure it places on education reforms.

RNEC has been around since 1997 yet Primary, O and A Level final exams are decades old.

"These changes were appropriate for today’s needs,” Rutayisire underscored, adding that teachers have broadly welcomed the proposed changes.

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