For the past three years, Rwanda Education Board (REB) has not ranked schools when releasing results of national examinations. Their reason is simple – ranking increases unnecessary pressure and competition in schools, which promotes malpractices. Surprisingly, in the just released national examinations for primary and ordinary level, an increase in exam malpractices was spotted. In Primary Six alone, cases rose by an eye watering 80.4 per cent to 455, up from 89 reported cases in 2014. At the ordinary level, the figures almost doubled compared to the previous year. Cases of exam malpractices rose to 208 up from 93 cases registered in 2014.

The Ministry of Education acknowledges the increase, but attributes it to culprits resorting to ‘fresh’ strategies.

"Unlike the previous year when we registered a decline in malpractices, this year figures show that there was an increase in candidates seeking marks through breach of ethics,” says Olivier Rwamukwaya, the State Minister in charge of Primary and Secondary Education.

The minister is, however, confident that despite this escalation, old cheating practices no longer have a chance to thrive under the current tight security measures.

"Initially, you would find students with answers, others were caught struggling to look at answers written down on papers. This time round, most of them are as a result of invigilators trying to assist the candidates. But all in all it is unacceptable,” adds the minister.

Emmanuel Muvunyi, the deputy director-general in charge of examinations at REB, reiterates that assisted malpractices are rising in schools.

"If you look at the figure in the primary section, out of the 455 cases, 406 six were all aided malpractices. Supervisors tried to help candidates gain marks,” Muvunyi says.

Prior and during the exams, the examination body put in place a variety of measures to detect and curb any malpractices.

For example, last year, in 801 examination centres at the primary level and 445 at the ordinary level, personnel such as examination centre supervisors, deputy centre supervisors and security agents signed contracts with REB to observe rules and regulations.

Unfortunately, while agents gave reports every day, loopholes were identified, but education experts are convinced unnecessary competition within schools is still the driving force.

Muvunyi, therefore, observes that ranking schools would encourage further competition, the very reason it was abolished in other countries as well.

"When you rank you create unnecessary competition between schools. Secondly, the whole picture of imparting competence in students may be missed since schools tend to focus on marks than training. In any case good ranking should look at the whole distribution with an emphasis on the facilities in each school”

However, Paul Swaggwa, a tutor at Akillah Institute for Women in Kibagabaga, argues that with or without ranking, malpractices continue to thrive.

"Even without the official rankings, schools will fight for recognition because media houses always point out the best performers,” Swagga explains.

On the soaring figures of malpractices, Swagga links it to private schools that have to work much harder to impress their clients.

"I think government schools don’t have reason to engage in cheating since they are not in anyway seeking for funds from parents and students. For private schools it is different, when you perform well, you attract more students,” he adds.

Theophile Habiyambere, the director of studies at Gashora Girls School, agrees with Swagga and believes that to curb malpractices attention should be directed toward improving exam supervision.

"There is nothing wrong with schools competing, as long as the competition is healthy. Curbing malpractices only requires improving the quality of supervision at both the district and school level,” says Habiyambere.

Asked on the increased involvement of invigilators in malpractice, Habiyambere blames greed of school authorities.

"If the arrangement is that another person from a different school should supervise a totally different school, when malpractices occur, it is just enough to conclude that there was involvement of the authorities,” he adds.

The issue of absentees

Several cases of absenteeism during examinations have been witnessed.

Last year alone, a whooping 7,756 students in Primary Six among those who registered missed examinations.

Although those at ordinary level who missed were not as high, at least 1,671 students registered but missed the examinations.

Janvier Ismael Gasana, the director-general of REB, clarifies that there is a gap between people who registered and those who sat exams.

"After the publication of results, we have to carry out an analysis in the different districts and find out the reasons. It is important to categories them to ensure that in the subsequent years, if the causes are similar they do not appear,” he explains.

Gasana points out that some times absenteeism during examinations may be sparked by other factors top of which are unavoidable natural causes.

"Our role then is to find the source and who is responsible for such a scenario. Some can be addressed but some may be natural such as sickness,” he adds.

The niggling figure of students who skipped exams was dominated by mainly up country districts. Musanze registered 556 absentee candidates, followed by Karongi District with 497, Nyagatare District with 448, Gatsibo District with 426 and Kicukiro with only 50 recorded the least.

In Nyamasheke alone, 324 of 8121 registered students missed primary six examinations.

Alphonse Sinabagije, the district education officer (DEO) of Nyamasheke is fast to point out that there was an encounter of deaths in a few schools.

"Some of the students registered but passed away before sitting examinations. It is quite unfortunate because this accounts for a portion of the seemingly huge figure,” says Sinabajije.

Michel Mulindankiko, the DEO of Karongi, where out of 7,318 registered students 497 missed, points out that much as the figure looks exaggerated, most likely a handful of students from different schools never participated.

"The main reason was sickness, some students fell sick in the course of exams. Schools are many in this district and you may find like each school contributed only five people or less,” Mulindankiko says.

But Catherine Mercy, the education coordination and partnerships manager at Save the Children, has a different view on absenteeism being high in the villages.

"Since Education is free, some students in the rural areas may not take it as a priority to attend school regularly.

There is a possibility that with a small token of cash to work in the farms or tea estates, some were persuaded to stay away,” Mercy says.

She also points out on a possible lack of honesty from school heads to provide the exact figures of candidates registering for exams.

"You know schools are supported depending on the number of students, school heads could be providing misleading figures because they want to keep benefiting from government funding,” she adds.

However the examinations body promises to iron out the causes of absentees and continues to maintain its position that there wont be any ranking during examinations whatsoever.

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What should be done to curb exam malpractices?

Placide Hakuzweyezu, S6 student, Lycee de Kigali: If students are well-prepared before exams they would not cheat. This should be done not in the final year but during the whole cycle of studying. Students, teachers and administrators can play a shared role to inculcate a culture of not cheating. During exams surveillance should be tightened.

Bruce Rwibuste, S2 student, College Doctrina Vitae: Teachers should ensure their students have revised well before sitting for the exams. This will make them more prepared. I believe this will reduce the malpractice as there will be no tension and lack of confidence among candidates.

Felicite Nirere, S3 student, Gs Cyahafi: The Ministry of Education should embrace technology by for example installing cameras and voice recorders in examination halls which can detect whatever is happening. This can prevent both students and teachers, as well as officials from getting involved in the vice.

Eric Mugisha, S3 student, Gs Rugando: Cheating makes students become lazy. It is a vice that should be punished heavily, for example, by making the culprits repeat a class. Teachers and officials helping students to cheat should also be punished or suspended. But the best solution would be to empower students early thorough rigourous tests to boost their confidence.

Emily Mudacyahwa, S5 student, Lycee de Kigali: There should be thorough checking and strict invigilation of candidates so that they do not get a chance or even temptation to cheat exams. Also students found cheating should be expelled and their results cancelled so that it also serves as a lesson to those planning to do it in future.

Compiled by Lydia Atieno