The 2012 results for the Ordinary Level examinations were released yesterday indicating high general performance this year compared to the previous year. The number of candidates who sat for the exams also increased from 77,473 in 2011 to 81,053.According to the results, 84.7 per cent of the 81,053 who sat last year’s exams passed compared to 82.8 per cent in 2011. However, this year girls emerged the best in general performance with 50.18% over 49.82% boys. Boys however dominated 2011’s results with 52.7%. The overall best two students in the country were Andrew Nkubito and Francoise Niyigena both from Nu-Vision High School in Rusororo sector in Gasabo district.Although there was improvement in performance, 2,733 students registered but did not sit for the exams countrywide. Kirehe district topped the list of absent students with 113, representing 5.49 per cent. According to the Minister of Education, Vincent Biruta, who received the results from Rwanda Education Board, the general conduct of exams was good compared to last year but added that more effort is needed to improve the performance.Biruta said the ministry would follow up the issue of candidates who failed to sit the examination to establish the cause and try to solve the problem. There are some schools, which according to the minister, bar weak students from sitting exams due to the fear of registering failures. This he said was uncalled for. The Headmaster of New-Life High School, which  produced some of the best ten students, John Africa attributed their good performance to good teaching and learning environment.The headmaster who was in a jovial mood after learning of his school’s excellent performance, told The New Times that the school’s teaching and learning environment allowed learners to perform well in national exams."This year, just like other preceding years, we have been performing well academically...the bottom line is respect fundamentals of education,” Africa said.