More than 60,000 pupils started sitting for their Primary Leaving Examination across the country on Monday.
It is reportedly the highest number of primary 8 candidates ever recorded.
60,714 candidates including 34,505 males and 26,209 females will take the exams on five subjects within a five-day period, according to the National Examination Council.
They started on Monday morning with Religious Education, followed by Science tomorrow February 14 and English Language on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the candidates will sit for Social Studies before concluding their exams with Mathematics on Friday.
Vice President for Service Cluster Hussein Abdelbagi rang the bell at Malakia Primary School to signal the start of the countrywide examination.
Addressing the candidates, Abdelbergi asked them to denounce examinations malpractices.
“You must not cheat anyway while taking your exams. I take this opportunity to thank parents whose children are sitting today primary leaving examination, you have guided, and you have brought them to love education because you believe in the power of education,” Abdelbagi said.
“Please continue to support them until university level. I would like to thank the teachers for preparing these students.”