Some students who began sitting for the national exams marking the end of the 2024–2025 academic year particularly those in Primary 6 at Ecole Primaire St Ignace, located in Gasabo District, Kigali City, expressed confidence in their performance. They said they had studied well and had even received prayers and blessings from religious leaders, which helped ease their fears about the exams.
These sentiments were shared by the students on Monday, June 30, 2025, during the official launch of the national primary school leaving exams by the state minister in the Ministry of Education, Hon. Irere Claudette, at Ecole Primaire St Ignace.
The students said their schools had thoroughly prepared them for the exams and that being blessed and prayed for helped reduce fear and uncertainty, giving them hope of achieving good results.
Nziza Andy Jordan, a student at Ecole Primaire St Ignace, said:
“I’m going to take the national exams, and I’ll follow the instructions I’ve been given. I won’t cheat or let anyone cheat from me. I will avoid rushing and pray that both myself and all other children taking the exams succeed. Once I finish, I’ll thank God for whatever results I get.”
Ineza Mugabe, another student at the same school.
“I am well-prepared and not afraid. We were prayed for, and I wish all my fellow students the best in the exams.” H added
Isaro Gabriela, from Ecole Chrétienne de Kigali, emphasized that studying well and being prayed for by religious leaders helped her a lot. She also extended blessings to her fellow students across the country:
“I am ready for the national exams. I studied and received God’s blessings. I want to bless my fellow students as well so that they succeed too.”
The Minister of state in the Ministry of Education, Irere Claudette encouraged the students to believe in themselves, emphasizing that while the exams are important, they are manageable.
“Students should make sure to arrive at their exam centers on time and bring all required materials. They should wear their school uniforms so that the public can recognize them as candidates. If anyone faces an issue at the site, they should seek help from staff. Most importantly, they should trust in themselves and treat these exams like any other they’ve taken, without fear.”
She also warned students against the practice of damaging school property after finishing exams.
“Sometimes we see students destroy infrastructure after completing national exams. Let me be clear: this will not be tolerated. Completing school does not mean those coming after you won’t study. Any student found engaging in such behavior will be punished as an example to others.”
The State Minister Irere Claudette has launched the exams at Ecole Primaire St Ignace, located in Gasabo District
The Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimana, said that the students had enough time to prepare for the exams, and therefore they are expected to perform well.
“They had enough time to prepare for the exams with the support of their teachers, so we expect them to perform well, pass the exams successfully, and get marks that will allow them to continue to secondary school.” He stated
The Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimana, officially launched exams at GS Institute Filipo Simaldone in Nyarugenge District
According to the Ministry of Education, a total of 220,840 students completed Primary 6 in the 2024–2025 academic year and are now sitting for national exams. Of these, 120,621 are girls and 100,219 are boys.
The data also shows that, 19,667 students are from private schools, 84,977 are from public schools, 116,196 attend government-subsidized schools under partnership agreements. At the national level, the exams were officially launched by the Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimana, at GS Institute Filipo Simaldone in Nyarugenge District.
