NESA releases 2024–2025 national exams timetable as pass rates drop

By The Inspirer Staff.

The National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA) has released the timetable for the 2024–2025 national written examinations, which will be held between June and July across Rwanda.

According to NESA, the Primary Leaving Examinations are scheduled to take place from June 30 to July 3.

Ordinary Level (Senior 3) examinations will follow from July 9 to 16. These dates also apply to Advanced Level students pursuing general education and accounting.

For students in Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs), Advanced Level national exams are set for July 9 to 18. Similarly, the Associate Nursing Programme examinations, along with other technical secondary school exams, are scheduled from July 9 to 17.

The written exams come after the national practical exams, which began on May 19 and are expected to conclude on June 6. These practicals involve students in accounting, nursing, science, and technical programs.

Nationwide, a total of 471,009 candidates from Primary 6, Senior 3, and Senior 6 have registered to sit for the national exams, according to the Ministry of Education.

Decline in 2023–2024 pass rates

The release of the exam schedule comes amid concerns about a notable decline in national exam pass rates during the 2023–2024 academic year.

NESA reported that the overall pass rate for Advanced Level candidates — which includes general education, technical secondary schools, and TTCs — was 78.6%, a drop from previous years.

General education candidates recorded a pass rate of 67.5%, a sharp decline from 95% in the prior academic year. In technical secondary schools, the pass rate dropped to 96.1%, down from 97.65%. Professional education students had a pass rate of 98.1%, slightly below the previous year’s 99.7%.

“Last year’s candidates who did not score at least 50 percent have returned to school, something that was not common before. There are centers supporting private candidates,” said Bernard Bahati, Director General of NESA, in an interview with Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA).

He noted that initiatives such as the school feeding programme are contributing to a reduction in school dropouts, helping students remain in school and better prepare for national examinations.