Education is power; there is no question about that. Any country that makes a sound investment in educating its populace is bound to emerge powerful.

This is the case with Rwanda today. It was with pride and joy that the Rwanda National Examination Council (RNEC) yesterday announced the 2008 national results for Ordinary level and Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE’s).

The statistics to marvel at stand at 78.69 percentage pass for the O’level results, while the PLE’s achieved a ground-breaking 74.0 percent from a dismal 32.17 percent, registered in 2007.

The education ministry under the stewardship of the duet of Dr Daphrose Gahakwa and Theoneste Mutsindasyhaka has been undergoing thorough reforms, that have not only been meant to increase the quality of education, but are part the harmonisation process with the rest of the East African Community countries.

The overall improvement in the results shows that these reforms are working to the betterment of Rwanda’s education sector.

While gender disaggregated data is disheartening as girls have not performed as well as they should have, they have trailed behind boys in numbers with fewer of them passing both the O’level and PLE’s.

Placing a big challenge on the education ministry to consider some of the socio-cultural dynamics that affect the girl child’s participation and performance in school, as they carry out future reforms.

Kudos however go to FAWE Girls High School, for coming third nation-wide, among the schools that got the best results, and well done to their student,  Joan Uwase Kalimba, who came third in the best O’level student performer.

Much inspiration is derived from the star of the moment, our very own brain-box, Eric Manzi Rugamba, of Green Hills Academy who emerged the best O’level candidate, by scoring seven aggregates-average marks of 84.2.

Rugamba lost his father recently, and could only share his moment of joy with his proud mother.

His message to other students out there is to work hard.

Ends