Primary school examination results announced yesterday in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state show that only 14.5% of those who sat the primary 4 and primary 8 level exams are girls.

The state ministry of education released the final examination results for primary four pupils as well as those sitting the primary school leaving certificate which showed that, out of 3596 pupils, only 521 were girls.

Khon Deng Chan, the state minister of education, reported that the overall pass rate was 87.6%, with 90% of boys passing alongside only 72% of girls.“This year’s results are much better compared to last year,” he claimed.

The examinations are currently prepared within the state ministry of education but as of next year they will be set by the national Ministry of General Education & Instruction.  All states will therefore sit standardized primary-level tests where their progress can be compared.

Khon particularly congratulated private schools in the state including New Life and Nyamlel Comboni primary schools in Aweil West county who, he claimed, performed better than their government counterparts. 

“There are no teachers in government schools, perhaps because of the low payment of teachers,” reported Khon.

Many teachers who left the profession in South Sudan have sought employment with NGOs whose wages are often higher.

The minister urged some teachers who are officially employed by NGOs as well as the education ministry to formally resign rather than being paid to teach while working elsewhere.