Rural schools top again!

A’LEVEL RESULTS:The 10 best districts are based upcountryRural-based schools have produced another remarkable performance in last year’s A’Level national examinations, beating their urban counterparts hands down for the second year running, according to results released yesterday.The 10 best districts are all based upcountry.Schools from the Southern and Eastern provinces took the crown again with the remote Gisagara and Rwamagana districts, in that order, topping the list. Kayonza district, which also shined in last year’s O’ Level exams, came third followed by Nyaruguru and Gicumbi in short order.However, last year’s best district, Gakenke in the Northern Province, did not make it among the best 10 performers.In general, 87.5 per cent of the total students who sat for the exams, passed.Boys also improved their performance compared to last year, constituting 56.4 per cent (15, 205) of the total students who passed; up from 53.5 per cent the previous year.The number of female candidates who sat for the examinations, on the other hand, fell by 0.7 per cent from 46.5 per cent in 2010 to 45.8 per cent in 2011.A total of 30, 845 students sat for the Advanced Level exams, with 54.2 per cent being boys. Of the candidates, 22.8 per cent were private and their general performance was also an impressive 83 per cent, up from 72.8 per cent in 2010.Surprisingly, Corner Stone Leadership Academy of Rwamagana beat other schools in the country to take the top position in both Arts and Sciences with an average performance of 54.7 and 47.2 aggregate respectively.Petit Seminaire St. Jean Nkumba and Petit Seminaire St. Aloys Cyangungu were second and third in sciences respectively, while Petit Seminaire Nyundo and E.SC Byimana came fourth and fifth.In Arts, G.S St. Bernadette Save, G.S Janja and Riviera High School followed in that trend.Onesphore Ndayishimiye of G.S.O Butare in the sciences scored straight ‘As’ in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics followed by Emmanuel Taylor Dufitumukiza of E.SC Byimana who also scored straight As in the same combination.Both students were from schools based in the Southern Province.The best nine students in sciences scored straight ‘As’. Only two female candidates made the list of the best nine science students. Others include Romeo Ntazinda (MPC) of G.S Saint Andre, Leonce Nshuti (MCB) of E. SC. Musanze and the only female candidates, Alice Igiraneza and Sauda Niyigena, (MCB) both of E.SC. Byimana.“Candidates who qualify for certificates should have scored at least three subsidiary passes at grade ‘S’ [one point] or its equivalent,” Dr. Mathias Harebamungu, State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education said yesterday when he released the results. He said the improved performance by rural schools “demonstrates commitment by teachers to offer quality education.” Head teachers will, on Monday, start picking the results of their respective schools. Students can access their results on the website (www.rnec.ac.rw) or by sending an SMS (full candidate’s index number to 489).The released results, however, exclude those of students who completed Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools, which were administered by Workforce Development Authority (WDA).Previously, all results, including those of TVET schools were administered by Rwanda National Examination Council (RNEC), now known as Rwanda Education Board (REB).Beginning this year, however, Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) took up the responsibility of Teacher Training Centres (TTC).This means that with effect from 2012, REB only retain the administration of examinations for Primary, O’Level and A’ Level. Technical and professional examinations will be administered by WDA and KIE.This explains why the number of candidates who sat for A’ Level exams reduced from 49,133 in 2010 to 30,845 in 2011, said Harebamungu.