Education Minister Silas Lwakabamba yesterday released the 2014 Primary Leaving and Ordinary Level examinations results, but this time round districts have not been ranked as was the case previously.
Education Minister Silas Lwakabamba yesterday released the 2014 Primary Leaving and Ordinary Level examinations results, but this time round districts have not been ranked as was the case previously.
There was also no mention of schools that topped whether regionally or nationwide with officials saying that previous rankings that showed top performing schools and districts encouraged exam malpractices as schools and districts sought to outdo each other.
Video: Primary and O-Level National Examinations Results Released. Source: The New Times/YouTube
"It was noticed that exam result rankings created an unhealthy competition as some local leaders and schools engaged in malpractices for the sake of getting good grades,” Emmanuel Muvunyi, the deputy director-general in charge of examinations at the Rwanda Education Board, told The New Times last evening.
He partly attributed the notable decline in exam malpractices this time round to the fact that schools were not ranked in the 2013 exams results.
In PLE, only 88 cases of malpractices were registered in 2014 compared to 1,324 in 2013, while, in O-Level, malpractice cases reduced to 93 down from 203 the previous year.
Star performers
Rwanda Education Board released only the names and pictures of the top 11 performers in either category, along with the names of their parents, but did not indicate their respective schools or districts.
Boys swept eight out of 11 top positions in PLE, with the best performing girl coming in seventh position, while in O-Level, there are six female students in the top 11 positions although boys snatched the top two positions.
For primary school leavers, the results indicate that 85.50 per cent of students in 2014 passed in division one compared to 84.12 per cent in 2013.
Although boys performed better than girls at the lower section (PLE), female candidates outclassed their male counterparts at the Ordinary Level.
Among 86,461 who sat Ordinary Level examinations, 46,020 were girls, while 40,441 were boys.
This represented a decrease from 93,889 candidates who sat the previous year.
On the other hand, 74,541 candidates in the O-Level section came in the upper division, rep resenting an increase of just 0.4 per cent from the previous national examinations.
Minister Lwakabamba blamed absenteeism during exams as key in the reduced number of candidates.
Muvunyi said Senior One and Four students will commence their studies on January 26.
The final selection for Senior One entrants will be held between January 14 and 15 while those for Senior Four will be held between January 16 and 18, he said.
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Star performers speak out
Abdul Karim Mugisha, 12, Kigali Parents School, top student scored 5 out of 5. ‘ I was very excited when I heard the news about the results. I mostly attribute my success to constant revision as well as parents and teachers who always encouraged me to work harder. I also want to thank God who has seen me through a number of challenges during my education. I want to become a civil engineer in future.’
Joselyn Manzi, 12, Kigali Parents School, scored 5 out of 5. ‘I got the news over radio and was very happy. I worked very hard towards the finals and my parents also used to push me every day for more effort. I wish to thank my teachers for the support they gave me up to the final hour. I am looking forward to pursuing an engineering course in future.’
James Ishimwe, 15, O-Level, Riviera High School, scored 8 in 8. ‘I did not believe it at first until when I confirmed it from my teacher. I appreciate all the support that I received during my school time. I advise the other students that it is possible for them to succeed as well. I want to become a computer Engineer in future.’
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