Over 2,800 Refugee Students Sit National Exams

Over 2,800 students from refugee camps attended the primary leaving examinations, which started on Monday.

The Ministry of Emergency Management said that they worked with Rwanda Education Board (REB) and a number of districts to ensure that refugee students attend national examinations safely.

However, on Monday, some refugee students were reported absent at exam centres in Gicumbi District due to their relocation to Kirehe District. The ministry confirmed that the students attended exams.

In Kirehe, 213 pupils missed the exams on Monday.

The Vice-Mayor of Kirehe District, Gerardine Mukandarikanguye, said that over 100 Burundian students returned to their country before the examination period.

She added that some students were sick, stressing that none of them had tested positive for Covid-19.

According to the ministry, 1,702 refugees registered for secondary school examinations which will be held next week.

The total number of refugees living in Rwanda stood at 127,557 as of the end of May 2021.

The refugees, of Congolese and Burundian nationalities, live in six camps, namely: Mahama, Gihembe, Nyabiheke, Mugombwa, Kigeme and Kiziba.