The countdown to the 2025/2026 National Examinations has officially begun! The National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA) has released the official guidelines for Primary Six (P6), Senior Three (S3), and Senior Six (S6)/Level 5/Year 3 candidates. Whether you are a student, parent, or school leader, here is everything you need to know to ensure a smooth registration process.

Key Registration Dates Mark your calendars! The registration window opens on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, and will close on Friday, March 27, 2026. All registrations must be completed through the School Data Management System (SDMS).

What Students and Parents Need to Do

School Selection (P6 & S3): Candidates must choose 4 boarding schools and 2 day schools for their next level of education. Notably, S3 candidates must include at least two Technical Secondary School (TSS) orientations among their boarding choices.
Parental Involvement: Parents are required to guide their children’s school choices and ensure their contact details are correctly entered in the SDMS. You will receive an SMS confirmation once your child is registered.
Required Documents: S6/Level 5/Year 3 candidates must use their National ID or Passport, ensuring the data matches NIDA records exactly to avoid errors.

School Responsibilities Schools are mandated to assist students by providing clear passport photos and scanning necessary documents free of charge. Head teachers are ultimately responsible for the accuracy of candidate data, including names, gender, and special educational needs.

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2025/2026 NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS

REGISTRATION GUIDELINES

Doc Number: NESA/DG/423/2026 | Date: 24/02/2026

1. Introduction

NESA organizes national examinations at the end of each academic year for Primary Six (P6), Senior Three (S3), and Senior Six (S6) / Level 5 / Year 3. This guide outlines the registration procedures for both school-based and private candidates.

2. Registration Timeline

Start Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Deadline: Friday, March 27, 2026

Platform: School Data Management System (SDMS)

Responsible:

◦ Head teachers for school-based candidates.

◦ Private candidates register themselves in SDMS. Candidates attending private coaching centres must select the centres where they receive coaching.

3. Registration for School-Based Candidates

3.1. Eligibility Criteria

Level	Requirements
P6	• Be registered in SDMS for P1–P6 without skipping grades • Enrolled in P6 with a clear and recent passport photo
S3	• Completed successfully the Primary Leaving Examinations • Completed S1–S3 without skipping grades • Registered in SDMS with clear and recent passport photo Note: Students who passed PLE before the 2021/2022 academic year, or those who studied in other education systems are required to provide a P6 result confirmation or equivalence certificate and report cards for the previous two school years (S1 and S2).
S6 / L5 / Y3	• Completed successfully the S3 National Examinations • Completed S4–S6 (or Y1–Y3 / L3–L5) without skipping grades or changing combinations • Registered in SDMS with clear and recent passport photo • A National Identification Card or Passport • The information entered in SDMS must exactly match records from NIDA. If a candidate does not yet have a National ID, they may be registered using their full names, but schools must take extra care to ensure accuracy. Note: Students who passed S3 National Exams before the 2021/2022 academic year, or who studied in other education systems are required to provide a S3 result confirmation or equivalence certificate and report cards for S4/L3/Y1 and S5/L4/Y2.

3.2. Candidate Photo & Document Support

Schools must assist students with clear and recent passport photos and document scanning

free of charge.

3.3. School Selection & Orientation Choices for P6 and S3 Candidates

All Primary Six (P6) and Senior Three (S3) candidates are requested to select the schools where they wish to continue their studies—either in day schools or boarding schools.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to actively participate in this process and to confirm the identity details of their children to ensure accuracy and transparency.

Each P6 and S3 candidate is requested to:

• Choose 4 boarding schools and 2 day schools.

• S3 candidates must include at least two orientations/trades from Technical Secondary School (TSS) among the four boarding schools.

S3 Candidates will choose from 36 orientations across Technical Secondary Schools, Professional Education, and General Education:

SN	Type of Education	Orientation Full Name	Short Name
1	Technical Secondary School	Agriculture	AGR
2	Technical Secondary School	Animal Health	ANH
3	Technical Secondary School	Automobile Technology	AUT
4	Technical Secondary School	Building Construction	BDC
5	Technical Secondary School	Computer System and Architecture	CSA
6	Technical Secondary School	Electrical Technology	ELT
7	Technical Secondary School	Electronics and Telecommunication	ETE
8	Technical Secondary School	Fashion Design	FAD
9	Technical Secondary School	Food and Beverage Operations	FBO
10	Technical Secondary School	Food Processing	FOP
11	Technical Secondary School	Forestry	FOR
12	Technical Secondary School	Fine and Plastic Arts	FPA
13	Technical Secondary School	Interior Design	IND
14	Technical Secondary School	Land Surveying	LSV
15	Technical Secondary School	Manufacturing Technology	MAT
16	Technical Secondary School	Multimedia Production	MMP
17	Technical Secondary School	Music and Performing Arts	MPA
18	Technical Secondary School	Networking and Internet Technology	NIT
19	Technical Secondary School	Plumbing Technology	PLT
20	Technical Secondary School	Public Works	PWO
21	Technical Secondary School	Renewable Energy	REN
22	Technical Secondary School	Software Programming and Embedded Systems	SPE
23	Technical Secondary School	Software Development	SWD
24	Technical Secondary School	Tourism	TOR
25	Technical Secondary School	Water and Irrigation	WIR
26	Technical Secondary School	Wood Technology	WOT
27	Professional Education	Accounting	ACC
28	Professional Education	Associate Nursing Program	ANP
29	Professional Education	Early Childhood and Lower Primary Education	ECLPE
30	Professional Education	Languages Education	LE
31	Professional Education	Science and Mathematics Education	SME
32	Professional Education	Social Studies Education	SSE
33	General Education	Arts and Humanities	-
34	General Education	Languages	-
35	General Education	Mathematics and Science (stream one)	-
36	General Education	Mathematics and Science (stream two)	-

Note: The list of schools and their trades/pathways is available on the NESA website.

3.4. Registration to National Examinations for S6 / L5 / Y3 Candidates

In 2025/2026 National Examinations, both School Based and Private Candidates will register in the following combinations / Trades / Options:

SN	Type of Education	Orientation Full Name	Short Name
1	Technical Secondary School	Agriculture	AGR
2	Technical Secondary School	Animal Health	ANH
3	Technical Secondary School	Automobile Technology	AUT
4	Technical Secondary School	Building Construction	BDC
5	Technical Secondary School	Computer System and Architecture	CSA
6	Technical Secondary School	Electrical Technology	ELT
7	Technical Secondary School	Electronics and Telecommunication	ETE
8	Technical Secondary School	Fashion Design	FAD
9	Technical Secondary School	Food and Beverage Operations	FBO
10	Technical Secondary School	Food Processing	FOP
11	Technical Secondary School	Forestry	FOR
12	Technical Secondary School	Fine and Plastic Arts	FPA
13	Technical Secondary School	Interior Design	IND
14	Technical Secondary School	Land Surveying	LSV
15	Technical Secondary School	Manufacturing Technology	MAT
16	Technical Secondary School	Multimedia Production	MMP
17	Technical Secondary School	Music and Performing Arts	MPA
18	Technical Secondary School	Networking and Internet Technology	NIT
19	Technical Secondary School	Plumbing Technology	PLT
20	Technical Secondary School	Public Works	PWO
21	Technical Secondary School	Renewable Energy	REN
22	Technical Secondary School	Software Programming and Embedded Systems	SPE
23	Technical Secondary School	Software Development	SWD
24	Technical Secondary School	Tourism	TOR
25	Technical Secondary School	Water and Irrigation	WIR
26	Technical Secondary School	Wood Technology	WOT
27	Professional Education	Accounting	ACC
28	Professional Education	Associate Nursing Program	ANP
29	Professional Education	Early Childhood and Lower Primary Education	ECLPE
30	Professional Education	Languages Education	LE
31	Professional Education	Science and Mathematics Education	SME
32	Professional Education	Social Studies Education	SSE
33	General Education	History Geography Literature in English	HGL
34	General Education	History Literature in English Psychology	HLP
35	General Education	Literature in English French Kinyarwanda Kiswahili	LFK
36	General Education	Mathematics Chemistry Biology	MCB
37	General Education	Mathematics Computer Science Economics	MCE
38	General Education	Mathematics Economics Geography	MEG
39	General Education	Mathematics Physics Computer Science	MPC
40	General Education	Mathematics Physics Geography	MPG
41	General Education	Physics Chemistry Biology	PCB
42	General Education	Physics Chemistry Mathematics	PCM

Notes:

• Subject combinations that were phased out in previous school years are no longer available for examination registration.

• Unlike the 2024/2025 repeating candidates, all candidates for the 2025/2026 school year (both school-based and private) will sit for the same set of examination papers.

• Students with disabilities shall have equal access to all orientations, trades, and pathways. Disability must never be used as a criterion to restrict or deny registration or admission to any program.

3.5. Parents Involvement in Candidate Registration

Parents or guardians must be actively involved in guiding students' school choices before the registration process begins. Their contact details (phone numbers) must be accurately entered in SDMS to ensure that each parent receives all notifications related to the national examination process.

Once a candidate is registered, an SMS will be sent to the parent or guardian confirming the selected schools. If any changes need to be made, the parent must notify IMMEDIATELY the school before the registration application for their child is validated.

3.6. School Administration Responsibilities

The school administration is responsible for:

• Ensuring accurate candidate data in SDMS (names, gender, ID, birthdate, residence, parent/guardian contact, students' choices, information on student's disability).

• Verifying all registration forms before submission.

• Preventing duplication and mismatches—S6/Y3/L5 candidates must use their National ID.

• Verifying student's IDs into SDMS.

• Printing and securely storing registration forms.

• Notifying parents via SMS after registration; corrections must be made promptly.

• Supporting Private Candidates to sit for Practical Examinations: Teaching Practice (TTC), Integrated Assessments (TSS), ICT in Accounting (ACC) and Science Practical assessment (PBA).

3.7. Role of NESA Inspectors and District & Sector Education Officials

NESA inspectors, in collaboration with District Directors of Education (DDEs) and District Education Officers (DEOs), are responsible for overseeing the smooth execution of the online registration process. Sector Education Inspectors (SEIs) must monitor the process daily and collect reports from schools to ensure no student is left unregistered.

3.8. Role of Data Processing Officers (DPOs)

The role of Data Processing Officers (DPOs) is to support Head Teachers with SDMS registration tasks throughout the entire registration period. DPOs are also responsible for assisting in the identification of learners with disabilities or Special Educational Needs (SEN), ensuring their accurate registration, and facilitating the provision of appropriate examination accommodations.

3.9. Special Attention to Special Needs Candidates

The School Data Management System (SDMS) includes categories for students with disabilities. Head Teachers must document each learner's support needs to guarantee equitable access to National Examinations and school placement. They must also ensure that all information related to students with disabilities is accurately recorded in SDMS.

School administrators, SEIs, DPOs, DEOs, and DDEs are collectively responsible for the early identification of learners with disabilities or Special Educational Needs (SEN), their accurate registration, and the provision of appropriate examination accommodations.

4. Registration for Private Candidates

4.1. Who Can Register as a Private Candidate?

Eligible individuals include:

• Those who previously sat A-Level exams in Rwanda or abroad (with verified certificates).

• Those who completed O-Level at least five years ago (2020/2021 school year or earlier).

• Those who completed S3 before 2000 school year (when no S3 national exams were conducted).

• Holders of qualifications acquired in Rwanda previously: A3, A4, D4, D5, ENI, EMP, EMM, EAP, EMA, ENA, ENTA, Section Familiale, CERAR or CERAI.

• TTC candidates with verified practical marks from previous years.

4.2. Required Documents and Fees

• Valid National ID or passport (foreigners only).

• Verified certificates or result confirmations.

• Passport-size photo (≤200kb, white background, ears visible).

• Payment of non-refundable 15,000 RWF through the "Irembo" portal.

Note: Pay only after receiving a bill number and PIN from Irembo. Bill numbers expire after 5 days and are not renewable.

Note: Foreign Candidates without a Rwandan National ID should obtain payment confirmation via email from NESA before making any payments.

4.3. Registration Process

• Register via SDMS (www.sdms.gov.rw).

• Choose one district in which the candidate will sit for National Examinations.

Notes:

◦ Private candidates are required to complete their registration independently. If a candidate opts to register through a third party, they shall bear full responsibility for any errors or omissions.

◦ Private candidates attending coaching centres are requested to register within their respective coaching centres as indicated in SDMS.

◦ TTC private candidates must register through any TTC school of their choice. Practical exams are organized by the school.

◦ Foreign private candidates without Rwandan ID must email documents to privforeigners@nesa.gov.rw

◦ Private Candidate Index Number format: DistrictCode + PC + CombinationCode + CandidateSerialNumber + SchoolYear. Example: 12PCPCB0052026

4.4. Examination Centres

• Each district has one or more Private Candidate Examination Centres.

• Validated candidates must sit for examinations in the district where they registered. No changes of examination centres are permitted.

• The list of examination centres will be published on the NESA website at least two weeks before the start of the exams.

4.5. Other Information on Registration for Private Candidates

• Subject combinations that were phased out in previous school years are no longer available for examination registration.

• All candidates for the 2025/2026 academic year (both school-based and private) will sit for the same set of examination papers.

• Carrying forward grades achieved in previous A-Level National Examinations is not permitted. Any candidate wishing to retake A-Level National examinations is required to retake all subjects within their chosen subject combination.

• Examination malpractices will lead to appropriate disciplinary measures and penalties.

• Falsification of documents: Candidates found to have registered using falsified documents will be disqualified and reported to appropriate authorities (e.g. RIB).

• All registered Private Candidates must present a printed registration form from SDMS and a valid National Identity Card at all examination sessions.

The National Examinations timetable will be published on NESA's website three months before the first day of National Examinations.

NESA 2025/2026 NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS REGISTRATION GUIDELINES