For the first time, science students finishing higher secondary education this year will have to seat for practical national exams, Rwanda National Examinations Council (RNEC) has said.

RTNEC Executive Secretary, John Rutayisire, told The New Times that the policy was in line with orienting Rwandan curriculum to that of the EAC.

"Science subjects in the past were taught theoretically on chalk boards, which is why most of our doctors and engineers’ performance has always been questioned,” Rutayisire said.

"You cannot complete university as a doctor or engineer without having done practicals and you think that you are going to be competent.”

Rutayisire said that the practical examinations would develop a culture of research at an early stage.

‘We want to develop qualitative skills in our society where students will be allowed to explore, acquire observation skills, record what they have observed, make analysis and form critical conclusions and also subject their ideas to questioning,” he said.

He explained that the move to modify the system started by reducing the number of subjects to three core subjects and General Paper (GP)

"People used to think that doing many subjects was more advantageous because it could allow them get any job. But you cannot do all subjects, a student needs to prioritise and have thorough skills in a certain area.”

Officials in the council say that preparations for the practical exams are in high gear to make sure that it becomes a success.

Since last year, science teachers countrywide have been undergoing training to be able to examine this year’s candidates and the latest training was in March this year, conducted by science examiners from Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB).

RNEC and the National Curriculum Development Center (NCDC) have through the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) given tenders to local business people to import more laboratory equipment that will cost the government Rwf1.1billion.

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