A total of 167,166 children will sit this year’s Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) according to the department of Examinations and Accreditations in Rwanda Education Board (REB).

For the second consecutive year, girls constitute a majority, with 54 percent of the total number of candidates this year.

Information from the department shows that there was a decrease in the number of candidates compared to the previous year that registered a total of 180, 990 pupils.

Speaking to The New Times, Deputy Director General of REB in charge of Examinations and Accreditation, Emmanuel Muvunyi, attributed the decrease to the various improvements in the education system over the last three years.

"We used to have overwhelming numbers due the high rate of repetition. We no longer have repeaters which is the reason why there is a decrease in the number of candidates,” said Muvunyi.

The Ministry of Education devised a policy that sees all primary school pupil who sit for the examinations promoted to the next class under the 9-Year Basic Education Programme.

This year’s exams will be held in 691 centres nationwide up from 639 last year.

Muvunyi said the increase is aimed at reducing the distance candidates previously travelled.

"The number now allows the pupils to walk a distance of 30 minutes on average.”

He also disclosed that all examination papers had been dispatched to the respective centres by Monday.

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