Sixty thousand Rwandan students have failed their national examinations.
According to the local The New Times website, the country's education authorities are cracking down on an automatic promotion program that was implemented last year in an attempt to increase academic performance.
Because of low national exam results, the Rwandan government has stated that over 60,000 pupils will have to retake their current school year’s coursework.
Over 44,000 students had completed their elementary school exit exams. The other students were in high school.
According to the local The New Times website, the country’s education authorities are cracking down on an automatic promotion program that was implemented last year in an attempt to increase academic performance.
According to the same publication, the education minister stated that the students in question will be offered assistance.
“The next stage will be to trace the pupils and their schools,” Valentine Uwamariya said, “and then there will be a special program to help them better, in partnership with REB (Rwanda Education Board), districts, and schools.”
The ruling has prompted outrage online, with some calling it unjust.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the past two years have been difficult for kids and everyone else. But how is it that Rwanda’s educational system makes kids pay the price? One exam sitting—even if it wasn’t assured until the last minute—??
October 4, 2021 — Tasha (@Natasha Agasaro)
According to The New Times, the education minister accepted the criticism and stated that the government cannot disregard the possibility that some students will drop out of school as a result of the decision.
“We hope they will not be discouraged since there is a unique plan in place to help them,” she said.
