Over 60,000 pupils are today writing their first paper for the Certificate of Primary Education (PLE) examinations across the country.
The exams are expected to run through February 17.
Addressing candidates at the Malakia Primary School in Juba on Monday, Hussein Abdel Bagi Akol, Vice President for Service Cluster, encouraged the candidates and warned them to refrain from examination malpractice.
“Allow me to encourage the candidates who are about to sit for the Primary leaving examination certificate today, you have worked hard to reach where we are today. You have started and burned the midnight oil you are now ready to sit for your exams, remember to display honesty and integrity while climbing the academic journey, you must not cheat in any way while taking your exams”
A total of 60,714 candidates, 34,505 males, and 26,209 females are dully registered for the national exams.
Vice President Abdel Bagi applauded the efforts of the Ministry of General Education for their continued efforts and consistency in regular preparation and periodic primary examinations.
“By God’s grace and will, I look forward to attending the opening of your secondary examination in the next four years. I take this opportunity to thank parents whose children are sitting the Primary Leaving examinations, you have guided and brought your children to love education because you believe in the power of education. Please continue to support them until the university level,” the minister urged.
Jonglei State
Jonglei state education minister says there is a drop in the number of candidates registered for the national exams as compared to last year, as Pigi county did not register any candidates.
“Across the state, a total of 2,760 candidates are sitting for CPE exams. Of this, 30 percent represents females,” Minister Gabriel Deng Ajak told Radio Tamazuj on Monday. “Compared to last year, there is a slight drop because there are no candidates from Pigi County and also there is poor performance in some counties.”
“On behalf of the ministry of education in Jonglei State, I wish the 2,760 pupils all the best. I am optimistic that Jonglei will still maintain number one despite the challenges because pupils are well taught and our teachers are very committed,” he told the candidates.
Western Equatoria State
Meanwhile, the education minister in Western Equatoria State Grace Apollo wished the about 3,000 pupils success in the exams saying she was optimistic that the results will be better than last year.
“Number of girls who are going to sit for the examination in Western Equatoria State is 3,008; 1,309 girls and then boys 1,699. We have 79 classes. As your minister, I greet you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and I wish you all the best. I know this year Western Equatoria State is going to do better than last year,” she said.
Also addressing the start of the exams, Governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba, faulted teachers for the poor performance of pupils last year.
“We rang the bell last year and Western Equatoria became the number last in the exams. Why? Because of teachers, they said if there is no money they don’t teach pupils. Are those children white people? Whose children are they? Are they not yours? You don’t want to teach and whom are you expecting to come and teach them?” Futuyo questioned the teachers.
“So, I don’t want this failure this year, I need Western Equatoria to be number one because the money is there, and you will receive a three-month salary at a go,” he declared