Primary, O’level Exam results out

• Slight improvement registered at O’ level• As PLE performance declines • Kigali Parents produces top 12 candidates KIGALI - The 2009 National exam results for primary (PLE) and Ordinary Level (O’level) were released yesterday. The results were announced yesterday by the State Minister in charge of Primary and Secondary Education, Mathias Harebamungu, at the Rwanda National Examination Council (RNEC) offices in Remera. This year’s results show a slight increase in the general performance of O’ level compared to last year. However, there was a slight decrease in PLE candidates. Only 60 percent of the candidates who sat for PLE last year passed their exams compared to 74.25 percent who passed in 2008. In O’ level, 80.9 of the candidates who sat exams passed compared to 78.8 percent in 2008, Harebamungu said that the decline in the primary performance was largely due to the fact that a big number of candidates, estimated at over 95 percent, did their exams in English, a language that they were not well conversant with. 51,737 students sat for O’ level exams last year while a total of 157,779 pupils sat for PLE of the 167, 755 who had registered. The results also show an improvement in the performance of girls, especially in PLE. Among the best performing students in O’ level were Keren Neza of Riviera High School, Iradukunda Jean Paul of Petit Seminaire Rwesero and Nadia Mugisha of Lycee Notre-Damme de Citeaux. Kigali Parents’ Primary School produced the top 12 pupils PLE who included five girls. The top three were Eric Mutsinzi, Arsene Kwitonda and Fred Mugisha. City schools shine Compared to schools upcountry, city schools performed better in the PLEs, taking almost all the first 23 places of the best schools in the country and most of them are private schools. Pupils in the city also did better in the particular subjects of Mathematics, Science and English than their counterparts in the country side. This, the minister said, was because pupils have access to different materials. Best 20 schools (O-level) The results also show that in the O’ level exams, religious-based schools took the lead compared to the public and private schools. Out of the 20 best schools in this category, 10 are religion-based and are outside Kigali. The best schools are Petit Seminaire Rwesero, Petit Seminaire Nkumba, Petit Seminaire Ndera, PS Saint Leon Kabgayi, PS Saint Pie X de Nyundo, Green hills Academy, Lycee Notre-Damme de Citeaux, FAWE Girls’ School, Esc Byimana and Sonrise High School. Others are PS Virgo Fidelis Karubanda, Nu-Vision High School, Petit Seminaire Zaza, ENP/TTC Save, PS Saint Aloys, TTC Mururu, GS Shyogwe, ES Ste. Fam. Nyamasheke, GS NDBC Byumba and GSO Butare. John Rutayisire, the Executive Secretary of RNEC, announced that the selection for students joining lower secondary schools begins on Monday next week, while on Thursday selection for students joining A’ level will resume. The 2010 academic year is slated to start on February 2. Ends