The Ministry of Education, through the National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA), has released the results of the 2024/2025 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) and O’Level National Examinations (OL).

The examinations were conducted nationwide from 8–10 July 2025 for Primary Level and from 24 July–3 August 2025 for Ordinary Level. A total of 220,927 candidates were registered for PLE, of which 219,926 sat for the exams. At Ordinary Level, 149,206 candidates registered, and 148,702 sat for the exams.

The official announcement was presided over by the Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimana, who commended the smooth conduct of the examinations, shared the overall pass rates, and reflected on Rwanda’s progress in education. He reaffirmed that quality education is the foundation upon which Vision 2050 is built, emphasizing the Government’s commitment to sustaining and enhancing progress in the sector.

Speaking at the event, Minister Nsengimana said:
“These results reflect not only the hard work of our learners, teachers, and parents, but also Rwanda’s determination to continually raise education standards. Last year, we took a deliberate step forward by introducing a 50% pass mark. To make results more transparent, students and parents can now view marks expressed both as raw scores and percentages, presented in a simple and easy-to-understand format. We are particularly encouraged by the positive impact of remedial learning programs, which are helping many learners reach their full potential. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to our teachers, parents, and students for their dedication and resilience.”

Key Outcomes

Primary Leaving Examination (PLE)
Registered candidates: 220,927
Sat for exams: 219,926
Graded candidates: 219,900
Passed: 166,334
Pass rate: 75.64%
 

Ordinary Level (OL)
Registered candidates: 149,206
Sat for exams: 148,702
Graded candidates: 148,676
Passed: 95,674
Pass rate: 64.35%
 

At the Primary Level, male candidates outperformed females, while at the Ordinary Level, female candidates outperformed males.

Recognition of Excellence

The top 11 performers nationwide—six from PLE and five from OL—were recognized for their outstanding achievements. Each received:
A laptop,
Full-year payment of school fees,
Learning materials including books,
A certificate of recognition.

In addition, Umwalimu SACCO awarded these top students 100% non-refundable school fees for one year, further motivating them to excel as they advance in their education.