South Sudanese students are sitting for their primary leaving exams this time of year. Below is a roundup of news on the progress of the exams from different parts of the country. Radio Tamazuj wishes good luck to all students sitting for the exam.

Western Bahr el Ghazal

Primary leaving exams began in Western Bahr el Ghazal state on Wednesday for more than 4000 pupils from 77 primary schools.

In a speech during the exams kickoff ceremony at Khor-Mudir Girls Primary School in Wau, state Minster of Education Adel Atnacio Serur encouraged examiners to do their best in order to progress to secondary school.

The minister said the number of girls taking the exam rose from three to 37.

Adel encouraged families to support education of their daughters, noting that donors and the state government gave payment to encourage girls to continue their education.

Meanwhile, the secretary of examinations committee in the state ministry of education Mohiudeen Abdul Qadir said the pupils are sitting for the exam in 24 examination centres in the three counties and in Wau municipality.

Greater Pibor Administrative Area

The administration of Greater Pibor Administrative Area says they do not have printing and laminating machines to process examination materials for leaving exams.

Administration spokesperson Sam David said the ministry of education in the area has no paper nor the personnel needed to offer the exams for students.

Still, David told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that the only four functional primary schools in Pibor started their exams on December 7 for the first time ever in the history of Pibor County.

He said the exams in Pibor have been planned in collaboration with the Central Equatoria sate government and the ministry of education.

David said the number of the candidates who sat for the finals was 102, including 15 from Pochalla County.

There are two exams centers located in Pibor and Pochalla County respectively, according to the spokesman.

David said there are about 187 primary schools and three secondary schools in the entire area of Pibor administrative area (GPAA).

Western Equatoria

285 students including 80 girls sat for their primary leaving exam on Monday in Maridi county of Western Equatoria State.

Oliver Mahadi the County Examination Secretary said the students come from 13 schools, including one adult literacy school. They are sitting for exams in Maridi Central Payam and Mambe Payam.

Mahadi one student has missed sitting due to failure of paying exam fees on time.

The examination started on Monday with general science and English followed by mathematics and social studies on Tuesday, Mahadi said.

Maridi County Commissioner Ismail Fatalah Abdullah, speaking at the ECS town Primary School, encouraged students to work hard and be the best in the state. He advised the students to first tackle the simple questions before rushing for the hard questions.

Lakes

Primary leaving exams were postponed in Lakes state due to technical issues, education officials said.

The exams were scheduled to start Monday, but the printing machines were out of order, said state education ministry director Marial Makoi, reported Eye Radio.

He added that the exams will take place after after the problem is rectified. Makoi encouraged students to continue studying as they wait for a new date that will be announced.

Photo: P8 candidates at Kanjoro Primary school, Yei, tackle their exams first paper - Monday, Dec 7, 2015. Photo by Daniel Friday/Eye Radi