Focus Media (Kigali)
Timothy Kisambira
30 November 2008
The national examinations have come and gone, and students and teachers alike are now anxiously waiting for the results. What do they expect?
John Rutayisire, the executive secretary of Rwanda National Examination Council (RNEC), explains that in the preparations by the students for this year's examination, they were supposed to take a new approach.
"Rwanda is positioning itself in a way so as to be able to compete in academics in the region," Rutayisire says. "So we are trying to teach our students how to search for additional information on the Internet, how to sort the mass of data they find there and come up with information that complements with what they have been taught in class."
"We have emphasized this a lot, because we think that it will help our students to acquire broader knowledge," the RNEC boss says. "I hope that this will be a rewarding process, even though for the students it might seem a lengthy one; but it will surely yield results."
Moreover, Rutayisire points out that the organization of the exams has improved, and as a result none of the examination questions has been leaked this year.
Augustine Mutabazi, the deputy headmaster of APRED, also thinks that this year's examinations went well.
"We prepared our students well and we hope to get good results. There weren't any problems with the students either-you know, some have examination fever, and it even happens that students faint, but there were no such cases this year. I talked to a few students after the final papers, and they were mostly optimistic," Mutabazi says.
Ange Mutimukeye, from Ecole Secondaire Scientifique Islamique who sat her senior six exams, says that it was tough because they didn't have enough time to prepare.
"The syllabus was huge, and we did not manage to cover everything in class; yet the exams dealt with the whole syllabus. But I think that in the end I will pass; then I want to go and study medicine at the university," Mutimukeye says.
To get there, however, she will have to concentrate on biology and physics with which, she says, she struggled most.
Fifty-fifty
Fanny Akeza from St Andre in Nyamirambo, for her part, expects to pass with flying colors.
"I found the examinations easy, apart from physics for which we were given too little time. I was well prepared and was able to reply to all questions; so I don't see any reason why I shouldn't pass," Akeza explains.
Others are not so confident. Ange Uwamahoro from GS Du Mont Kigali Apace, estimates her chances as fifty-fifty.
"Some subjects were easy, others were difficult. For example, for economics and business studies they dealt with issues we hadn't been taught. It was more general knowledge, not what we saw in class-so I think I may fail the subject," Uwamahoro says.
English was another stumbling block. "I am francophone, so I did not always completely understand the question; obviously, then you are not sure whether you give the correct answers. I think that was a problem for all French speaking students," Uwamahoro complains.
Nevertheless, she remains optimistic and thinks that in the end she will pass.
Martine Basaninyange from St Joseph in Nyamirambo, sitting for senior three examinations, was also having a hard time with English. "I am sure that I am going to fail, because I speak French. And then there was physics-I must admit, all the questions were about things we had seen in class, but I did not prepare myself well, so I don't expect a lot from it either," Basaninyange sighs.
"I wish I had to sit for only two exams," he adds. "Math and French. They're my favorites; if it were only these two, I think I would be the best in the country."
The exam results are expected to be out by January.
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