The Rwanda National Examination Council (RNEC) has said that it will start to vet the credibility of exam records for all university entrants.

The move is aimed at stopping examination malpractices during Senior Six national examinations.

RNEC Executive Secretary John Rutayisire announced the decision on November 1.

"Clearly this is one of the measures we opt to undertake in order to accomplish what the law governing the national examination instructs us to do” Rutayisire explained.

Among criteria to be used include identifying the correlation of exam registration number, names and photo of every candidate that is in the RNEC’s exams databank.

On those that undertake A’ level studies outside the country, Rutayisire said cross border mechanisms would be put in place for those ones as well.

"It will take time, but we will achieve what we want,” he said, adding that the national exams law doesn’t stipulate specific period for such exercise to be completed.

He said the vetting exercise is currently under examination at the Ministry of Health and Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) where credibility of their staffs’ credentials is being reviewed.

Asked about why suspected exam cheats are not prosecuted, Rutayisire said his office is only mandated to undertake administrative measures.

These include withholding examination results and filing the case to judiciary.

"Beyond that it is judiciary to decide the appropriate measures to be taken,” he said.

At least five suspects were arrested on Tuesday in connection with examination malpractices and are set to face courts of law.

They include a medical doctor, Innocent Bimenyimana, who works at Musanze Hospital in the Northern Province, Juliet Mukagacinya, a teacher in Gatsibo District, Eastern Province.

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