More than 700 students with disabilities are set to take Rwanda’s national secondary school examinations this year, including those completing Ordinary Level and Advanced Level. This commitment to inclusive education ensures that students with disabilities are provided with the necessary tools and accommodations to sit for their exams properly.
According to the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), through the National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA), students completing both Ordinary and Advanced Levels of secondary school will begin their national exams on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. The examinations will be conducted at 1,595 centers located across the country.
Among the 101,081 students completing Advanced Level in regular schools, there are 55,435 girls and 50,929 boys. Additionally, 5,283 private candidates will sit for the exams, comprising 3,382 girls and 1,901 boys.
NESA’s figures further reveal that out of the total 255,498 students sitting for this year’s national secondary school exams, 782 are students with disabilities. Specifically, 459 students with disabilities are in Ordinary Level, and 323 are in Advanced Level.
Special support for students with disabilities
The Ministry of Education has affirmed that students with disabilities taking the Ordinary and Advanced Level national exams will receive special support, as detailed in their official announcement. This support includes exam papers printed in Braille and large print, assistive devices tailored for students with disabilities, provision of scribes (assistants to write for candidates), and extra time to complete the examinations.
These accommodations are designed to create an equitable testing environment, allowing all students to demonstrate their knowledge and abilities effectively.
The statistics indicate a notable increase in overall examination participation for the 2024/2025 academic year. The number of students taking the national exams has risen by 19,926 compared to the 2023/2024 academic year, which had 235,572 candidates. This increase reflects Rwanda’s ongoing efforts to expand access to education and ensure more learners complete their secondary schooling.
