Nearly 1,000 learners with disabilities are receiving special assistance as they sit Rwanda’s Primary Leaving Examinations for the 2025/26 academic year, as part of efforts to promote inclusive education.
The 928 candidates are among 277,452 learners taking the national examinations this year. They include 376 boys and 552 girls.
The support measures are designed to ensure that learners with disabilities have equal opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge and skills during the examinations. They include additional time, sign language interpretation, and the use of assistive technologies for learners with hearing, speech, and visual impairments.
Speaking during the official launch of the examinations at GS Karembure in Kigali, State Minister for Education Claudette Irere urged teachers and examination supervisors to provide the necessary support to learners with disabilities.
“No child is left behind in our education system. We have put in place mechanisms to support these learners, but we also call upon teachers to play their part,” Irere said.
She also encouraged parents to support all candidates by ensuring they have enough time to rest, prepare adequately, and receive the encouragement needed to perform well.
Rwanda has continued to promote inclusive education, with 43,663 learners with disabilities currently enrolled in schools and supported to pursue education alongside their peers.
Despite the progress, learners with disabilities continue to face performance gaps. Statistics from the Ministry of Education show that the 2025 Primary Leaving Examination pass rate among learners with disabilities stood at 60.1 percent, compared with the national average of 75.6 percent.
