NESA Announces Sharp Rise in Exam Pass Rates

Rwanda's National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA) has announced a sharp rise in national examination pass rates, with 88.21% of primary pupils and 85.70% of Ordinary Level candidates passing the 2025/26 exams, results announced in Kigali on Thursday.

The improvement marks a significant increase from the previous academic year, when 75.6% of primary candidates and 64% of Ordinary Level candidates passed.

A total of 276,579 candidates sat the Primary Leaving Examinations, while 149,015 candidates took the Ordinary Level examinations.

Boys recorded higher pass rates than girls at both levels. At primary level, 89.59% of boys passed, compared with 87.1% of girls. At Ordinary Level, the pass rate was 89.8% for boys and 82.63% for girls.

The results also highlighted strong individual performances.

Rwego Mutijima Bruno Ricky, a pupil at École Internationale La Racine in Bugesera District, was the top-performing candidate in the Primary Leaving Examinations, scoring 99.6%. Seven pupils tied for second place with 99.4%, including Irumva Bigwi Hugo of APACOPE.

In the Ordinary Level examinations, Musonga Isimbi Orah of FAWE Girls' School and Uwamariya Leontine of ASF Nyamasheke tied for first place, each scoring 98.7%.

The top-performing students were recognised and awarded during the results announcement ceremony.

By Elisa UWINEZA