More than 53,000 pupils have today started sitting their primary leaving examinations across South Sudan. The launch of examinations was officiated by Vice-President Hussein Abdelbagi Akol.
Speaking to journalists at Mayo Girls Primary School Compound in Juba, Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi said: “It is a very important day for you and for us because you are going to mark the end of primary level, and in the next few months you are going to join senior secondary schools.”
He added, “I want you to concentrate such that you can achieve good results. Secondly, don’t worry about these examinations because the same books they used for teaching you, are the same books examinations are set from them. I wish you well in the examinations and next year, I want to see you in secondary school”.
Also speaking during the launch of the examinations, the Minister of General Education and Instruction, Awut Deng Achuil advised the candidates not to panic but to remember all that was taught to them in the last eight years.
“I want to wish you well. This is your time now to put on paper what you have learnt for the last eight years. So, remember everything that you have been taught by your teachers and remember that panic is not a good start. So, be firm, be strong and be confident and get in your exams,” Minister Awut advised the candidates.
Simon Nyok Deng, the Secretary-General for South Sudan’s National Examinations Council, said: “We have 1,565 centres across the country with 180 exams stations where exams are being kept. And we are thankful to our security apparatus that the exams are in safe and secure hands.”
He added, “We had issues in Abyei, but thankfully all our exams were safe, all our invigilators, and security agents who were on board in the plane are all safe. But all the exam papers which were in that plane have reached their intended locations.”
In an exclusive interview with Radio Tamazuj, the headmaster for St. Joseph Primary school in Juba said candidates from his school were ready to sit for the examinations.
“In regards to the primary leaving certificate, we are prepared, we are not worried and we are ready to sit for them because we have completed the entire syllabus but we don’t know the outcome of the examinations,” Headmaster John Ladu said.
Some pupils also confirmed their readiness for the examinations in Juba this morning.
Ayuen Kon Dut, a female pupil from Mayo Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) in Juba confirmed her readiness to sit for the examinations.
“I am hundred per cent ready for my examinations. I am prepared for all the subjects because I know I was going to sit for these papers and so I have to prepare myself for all of these subjects and I am ready,” Ayuen said.
Tabitha James Johnson, another pupil from Mayo Girls Primary School in Juba, said she wants to score 90% and above in the examinations.
“I’m ready for the examinations though I feel somehow nervous, and I want to get 90% and above to make my teachers proud of me and I promised my parents that I would be among the best students in South Sudan,” she expressed.
A total of 53,220 candidates are sitting for the examinations across the country. The number of eligible candidates who are sitting for this year is 31,232 boys and 21,988 girls.