Girls outshine boys in Senior Three exams

General performance for Senior Three candidates in the 2015 national examinations improved compared to last year, with girls outperforming their male counterparts, according to results released yesterday. A total of 84,868 candidates sat the examinations, with 74,036 passing – a pass rate of 87.24 per cent. The results, released by Rwanda Education Board (REB), indicate that out of 74,036 students who passed, 38,277 were girls, representing 51.7 per cent. However, boys were overall best performers despite having majority of girls among those that passed their exams, according to results that were announced by the State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Olivier Rwamukwaya. The results show that 9,225 candidates (10.87 per cent) passed in Division One, but only 23 attained aggregate 8 in eight subjects, the highest score. Despite the outstanding performance by girls, Rwamukwaya said there still could be some culture hindrances that stop girls from performing to the best of their potential. “It is possible that girls meet more challenges in life than boys, hence requiring more guidance and intervention. Nonetheless, it is good to see that more girls passed their exams this year,” he said. “We are also proud of the results in general; we appreciate the efforts made by all stakeholders in ensuring this performance, especially the teachers who do a great job preparing candidates for exams.” The results also showed slight increase in general pass rate of 0.67 per cent, as compared to 2014 O-Level results. Rwamakuwaya called on parents to continue supporting their children and offering a conducive home environment to enable improved performance. The minister said a family that is marred by wrangles does not provide the best environment for children to learn. Malpractices individual While releasing the results, Minister Rwamukwaya said there were a number of cases where candidates got involved in examinations malpractices and, subsequently, their results were nullified. Rwamukwaya (C) reads the results yesterday in Kacyiru. (T.Kisambira) This was reiterated by Janvier Gasana, the director-general of REB, who said cases of malpractices involved both individual candidates and heads of examination centres and invigilators—who were involved in unlawful acts of assisting candidates answer questions. “The candidates implicated have been punished through cancelling their results and the invigilators will also be punished, after a thorough investigation,” Gasana said. However, the REB chief did not divulge detail of the candidates and examination centres involved in malpractice. Out of 86,541 candidates who registered for the 2015 Senior Three examinations, at least 2 per cent did not sit. “We are working with district education officers to establish the cause of this absenteeism and find a lasting solution. Under normal circumstances, no candidate should miss their examinations,” Rwamukwaya added. Following the release of Primary Six and Senior Three examinations results, yesterday, the selection of students for Senior One and Senior Four will begin “as soon as possible to allow students proceeding to the new education levels start when schools open next month,” Gasana said. Gasana reiterated that the government resolved not to rank the best performing schools and districts in order to discourage unfair competition, which in most cases would bring about examination malpractices—among schools—all in bid to emerge the best. ************************ Best Ordinary Level students with 8 aggregates Belise Mbabazi. - Nyanza Sheilla Teta Kangwagye. - Gasabo Delphine Mizero. - Karongi Adam Kato David. - Bugesera Amos Tumwine. - Gicumbi Jean Bertrand Aime Hakizimana. - Musanze Pacifique Hirwa Umutoni. - Nyamasheke Enock Tuyizere. - Nyagatare Yvan Valery Ntwari. - Nyagatare Francois d’assise Tuyisingize. - Nyarugenge Marie Immaculee Dusingize. - Huye Sonia Karita Uwizerwa. - Kicukiro Rosine Uwayesu. - Gasabo Divine Mbabazi. - Gasabo Patience Shenge. - Rwamagana Moise Ishimwe. - Nyanza Beregise Igiraneza. - Gasabo Emmanuel Mugisha. - Nyagatare philbert Ndagijimana. - Ruhango Noel Olivier Karemangingo. - Karongi Angelique Uwimpuhwe. - Gasabo Boris Ngabo. - Bugesera Sonia Uwase. - Gasabo editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Girls outshine boys in Senior Three exams