The Ministry of Education on Monday, September 1, 2025, released the results of the 2024–2025 Advanced Level national examinations, highlighting notable achievements across general education, technical and vocational training, and professional education.
The announcement showed a significant rise in overall performance, with more students excelling compared to the previous year.
A total of 106,418 candidates registered for the exams, of which 106,079 sat and 105,997 were graded. Out of these, 94,409 passed, representing an overall pass rate of 89.1 percent.
This marks a remarkable 10.5 percent increase compared to last year’s 78.6 percent. Education officials attributed the improvement to sustained reforms and targeted support measures, including remedial programs introduced earlier in the year.
Minister of Education Joseph Nsengimana said the results demonstrated what students could achieve with proper guidance and resources.
“I thank the teachers and parents who supported students in preparing for the exams. The success we have seen also reflects the impact of the remedial program that began on January 1 and continued throughout the preparation period. The students have performed well, showing they are truly capable,” he noted.
Performance varied across academic streams, but Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools posted the strongest results, with a 98 percent pass rate. Out of 36,254 students registered for the TVET examinations, 36,130 were graded, and 35,393 passed.
The pass rate was 97.7 percent for girls and 98.1 percent for boys. Across nine TVET sectors, success rates exceeded 99 percent, underscoring the impact of increased government investment in training equipment and consumables.
Paul Umukunzi, Director General of the Rwanda TVET Board, welcomed the outcome. “TVET students have performed very well and we’re happy with the results. It was in line with our expectations. We’re happy and proud of them,” he said.
He added that the share of students in TVET has grown steadily, rising from 31 percent in 2021 to around 40 percent by mid-2025, with the government targeting 60 percent by 2029.
General education also saw impressive performances. Alliance Merci Arengerwe of Cornerstone Leadership Academy in Rwamagana emerged as the top performer, scoring 96.06 percent in the Physics, Chemistry, and Biology combination.
In humanities, Jean Lambert Kagemana from ES Cyabingo in Gakenke scored 95.73 percent, while Jennifer Abayo Mugisha from Collège du Christ-Roi in Nyanza topped the languages category with 93.49 percent.
Technical Secondary Schools also celebrated standout students across multiple sectors. Among them was Nelly Phillipe Ashimwe from Gicumbi TSS, who led the energy combination with 96.96 percent, and Yves Hakizimana of Rwanda Coding Academy in Nyabihu, who scored 94.45 percent in ICT and Multimedia.
Other top performers included Fabrice Iradukunda in construction, Samantha Muganza in tourism and hospitality, and Delice Irakoze in manufacturing and mining, each scoring above 93 percent.
Professional education highlighted six students excelling in specialized areas. These included Raban Gitangaza from GS Gahini in Kayonza, who led the nursing program with 94.13 percent, and Fraterine Nisingizwe from EAV Ntendezi, who topped accounting with 94.57 percent.
Strong performances were also recorded in education streams, with nearly all candidates in Teacher Training Colleges meeting the pass mark.
Regional results revealed notable disparities across districts. Kayonza emerged as the best-performing district with a pass rate of 96.9 percent, followed by Kirehe with 95.6 percent and Rulindo with 94.9 percent.
Ngoma, Nyamasheke, Nyanza, and Ruhango also scored above 93 percent. Meanwhile, Kamonyi posted the lowest results at 85 percent, with Nyarugenge at 87.1 percent, and Gatsibo, Rutsiro, and Karongi each recording 88.6 percent.
The release of results earlier than in previous years has been welcomed as a step toward ensuring continuity in students’ academic journeys.
Minister Nsengimana explained that publishing results in September, rather than later in the year, allows successful candidates to transition smoothly to higher education while giving unsuccessful candidates time to retake exams.
While the overall picture is positive, gender disparities persisted. Boys outperformed girls, with a pass rate of 93.5 percent compared to 85.5 percent for girls.
In general education, 83.8 percent of candidates passed, while professional education registered an 89.8 percent success rate. Notably, all 438 students in the nursing program passed, a milestone for the sector.
Education leaders stressed that the gains are a result of both student effort and government investment. Officials also underscored the importance of technical skills for Rwanda’s development, calling for continued enrollment in TVET schools to meet the country’s growing demand for skilled labour.
The combination of improved pass rates, outstanding student performances, and strong district-level showings underlines a broader transformation of Rwanda’s education system, with an eye on preparing a new generation of skilled and capable citizens.
