Gov’t releases 2023 primary exam results, Unity State ‘best-performing’

JUBA – South Sudan’s National Examination Council on Wednesday afternoon unveiled the results of the 2023 Certificate of Primary Examination (CPE) examinations, with oil-rich Unity State topping the list of best performing states.

According to the Council, a total of 69,555 pupils registered for the examinations held between November 20^th and 24^th, 2023. It said that out of this number, 68,281 candidates sat for the exams, including 30,440 females. Male candidates outperformed females, with 52.4 percent compared to 41.2 percent.

The overall pass rate was 93.6 percent, showing a slight decrease of 0.7 percent from the previous year’s 94.3 percent. The Council said that a total of 4,344 candidates, comprising 2,028 males and 2,316 females, failed the exams.

According to the Council, Unity State topped the list of best performing states with 82.2 percent performance rate.

It is followed by Jonglei State, 77.2 percent, Warrap State, 77 percent, Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), 75.2 percent, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, 75 percent, Central Equatoria, 73.3 percent, Lakes, 72.5 percent and Western Bahr el Ghazal State, 72.2 percent.

Western Equatoria ranks at 68.9 percent, Eastern Equatoria at 68.6 percent, Upper Nile at 63.9 percent, Ruweng Administrative Area (RAA) at 61.7 percent, Abyei and South Sudan Embassy in Egypt at 61.6 and 53.4 percents, respectively.

The Council said it “ranks states, schools and candidates on assumption that all states, schools, and candidates have the same conditions.” It said that it bases the ranking on certain criteria such as the number of qualified teachers available to the states.

The national education institution said that Mathematics and English Language were the lowest-performing subjects, while Social Studies, and Science showed significant improvement in the 2023 CPE examination.

The top ten female positions were shared by 56 candidates, while the top ten positions overall were shared by 129 pupils.

JCC Model Primary School in Central Equatoria State emerged as the best-performing school, followed by Emma Memorial Academy in Western Equatoria State.

Joshua Swaka Selfader, a male student from JCC Model Primary School, clinched the title of best student nationwide, scoring a total mark of 480. He was followed by Mading Abit Deng Abit, a male student of Salaam Nursery and Primary School, with a total mark of 479.

Among the female students, Ayak Deng Torijok Majak from Standard Primary School in Western Bahr el Ghazal State secured the top position with a total mark of 479. She was followed by Nyalong Kieu Gaak Thuch from Alel Chok Complex Primary School, also from Western Bahr el Ghazal State.

The results were announced by the Minister of General Education and Instruction, Awut Deng Acuil, at the conclusion of the 18^th ordinary meeting of the council held in Juba on Wednesday.

“In terms of performance, a total of 63,937 of which 28,124 females and 35,813 males passed the examinations with a performance index of 72.1 while 4,344 of which 2,316 females and 2,028 males failed exams which represent 6.4 per cent of the total number of candidates that attempted the examinations,” Deng said.

Deng advised the public to obtain the official results from the schools where learners wrote the exams. State and area coordinators were directed to collect copies of the results for their respective regions at the secretarial of examinations premises immediately after the press conference.

“Members of the public are advised to obtain the official results from the schools where learners wrote the exams. States and areas coordinators can pick copies of the result for their states and areas at secretarial of examinations premises right after the press conference,” she said.