The results of the South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education show a marked improvement in the passing rate under the national curriculum compared to the previous years.

Out of almost 8,000 candidates who sat, roughly 6,000 passed, representing a passing rate of 77.9%. Last year, only 50 percent of the candidates passed.

The results show that male candidates have consistently performed better than female candidates. 79.4 of male candidates passed the examination compared to 74.3% of females.

However, the difference has reduced this year compared to last year, in which only 54.6% of male and 41 percent of female candidates passed.

Shared subjects between the South Sudan & the Sudan curriculum have dominated the well-performed subjects while Agriculture and General science have been poorly performed.

The top ten schools include Standard Secondary School in Wau, Bishop Abangite College in Gbudwe, Juba Diocesan Model in Jubek, Yei Girls Secondary School in Yei River, Comboni SS in Jubek, Yapa National Secondary School in Jubek, Chukudum Sec.

School in Namurnyang, Langbaar Modern School in Jonglei, Savana High School in Western Lakes and Malek Academy in Jonglei.

The best ten students are John Ajak Tiit Ajak, Bor College in Jonglei; Thomas Mark Joseph Lako, Juba Diocesan in Jubek; Daniel Mathiang Thon Anuol, Alliance High in Jonglei; Chol John Deng Kuir, Bor College in Jonglei; Nathaniel Chol Gakeer Alier, Excel International in Yei River; Mathew Onen Terence Charles, Juba Diocesan in Jubek; Jacob Deng Bol Deng, Excel International Yei River; Simon Tut Chuol Nyuot, Juba Academy in Jube; Kuot Emmanuel Madhuk Kuot, Dr. John Garang National in Jubek; Daniel Akech Riak Mach, Malek Academy Jonglei; and Zambako Gabriel Michael Mordecai, Bishop Abangite in Gbudwe.

An analysis of the results also shows that the candidature for South Sudan based curriculum examinations has been systematically increasing for the last five years.

Under the Sudanese curriculum, some 13,500 candidates sat for the exams.

Only 58 percent passed compared to 75 percent last year. Male candidates did better than their female colleagues.

Two schools sat for Commercial Subjects, two sat for Technical subjects and one school for agricultural subjects. In all these sections, candidates passed at a rate of at least 80 percent.

The Education Minister, Deng Deng Hoc, said the challenges include late registration and submission of entries by the states, which disorganized the secretariat schedules.

Some schools also replaced registered candidates with the unregistered without the consent of the secretariat.

Mr Deng said, while releasing the results last evening, that the main challenge was the conflict.

“The results were delayed by two factors, one of them was the fighting that took place here in Juba and that delayed the marking by seven days,” the minister said.

“We want those people who are more focused on the interest of the children and the interest of the country.”

The results delayed to be released because some markers had gone on strike over pay issues.

Mr Deng said they have resolved that markers for next year’s examinations will be selected by the state Ministries of Education.

He said the ministry will ensure that money for marking the examination is released by the Ministry of Finance in time before teachers come to Juba for marking.