A total of 165,284 candidates yesterday started their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) from various examination centres in the country.

The number of candidates reduced by 3 per cent compared to 173,281 candidates who sat the exams last year.

Some 76,652 boys are sitting the examinations this year compared to 88,632 girls.

The Rwanda Education Board said candidates are sitting their papers from 765 examinations centres with each examination hall seating not more than 25 candidates.

Candidates started with Social Studies and Mathematics yesterday.

Today, they are expected to sit Science and Elementary Technology and the exams will end on Thursday with English.

The State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Olivier Rwamukwaya, launched the examinations at Groupe Scolaire Shyorongi in Rulindo District, where he called on the candidates to be confident and avoid cheating.

"You should concentrate and pass your examinations, this will continue to prepare you for your next stage in the academic circles,” he said.

Emanuel Muvunyi, the deputy director-general in charge of examinations at Rwanda Education Board, said the exams started smoothly on time with no glitches across the country.

He said the examination board did not encounter difficulties as they had prepared very well in all the centres throughout country.

"We are sure the whole process will go as planned,” he said, adding that they have put strict codes and the security is tight with two police constables at each examination centre.

Jack Uwera, who sat her exams from Ecole Primaire de Kacyiru in Kigali, said she was eager to finish the examinations and join secondary school.

According to the examinations board, each district was divided into two zones, with each zone given two officers responsible for the monitoring of examinations and ensuring that there are no malpractices.

Muvunyi said the exams board involved district leaders and education officers to ensure a smooth process.

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