Primary Leaving Examinations begin today with about 174,874 candidates expected to sit Mathematics, Science and Elementary Technology, Social Studies and English and Kinyarwanda papers.The examinations will run through Thursday, October 24.According to information from the Ministry of Education, the number of registered candidates this year represents a a decrease of two per cent, compared to last year’s 178,488 candidates. Education minister Vincent Biruta yesterday said the decrease “could be linked to the decrease in birth rate over the last couple of years.”The number of schools increased to 2,555 from last year’s 2,520, while the number of examination centres also increased to 755 from 727. About thef students who register but do not sit the exams, Biruta said it the ministry had reminded school directors that it is the right of students to sit the exams they registered for. “Exemption should be given only to students who fall sick on the day of exams,” he added.Meanwhile, Ordinary Level (Senior Three) and Advanced Level (Senior Six) exams are set to commence next week October 30.At least 96,376 candidates are expected to sit the O Level exams while 31,053 candidates registered to sit A Level exams. In A-Level, there is remarkable decrease of 67.8 per cent in private candidates (from 4,374 last year to 1,409 this year). Biruta said it was “a consequence of the tough measures that were taken against private candidates after malpractices in registration and examinations last year”. “Students and teachers should know that malpractices will not be tolerated at all”.Also notable is an increase of 23 per cent in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students from 17,219 to 21,263 candidates this year. The number of students who registered in teacher training centres also decreased by 50 per cent, from 6,512 candidates last year to 3,574 this year. All exams end on November 8, according to the examination timetable.
