JC, EPC RESULTS POOREST IN FIVE YEARS

MBABANE – The external examination results for the Eswatini Primary Certificate (EPC) and Junior Certificate (JC) have continued to show a slump.

The results were presented by the Minister of Education and Training, Owen Nxumalo, yesterday and they reflect that they are the poorest in the past five academic years. Under the EPC, the pass rate for the 2023 examination stood at 91.31 per cent, while in 2022 it was 91.94 per cent. This reflects a decrease of 0.63 per cent in the past rate.
In 2021, the pass rate stood at 93.91 per cent, while in 2020 it was 94.02 per cent.

In 2019, the pass rate was 93.44 per cent. An analysis of the five academic years reflects that the pass rate for the results released yesterday for the EPC examination is the lowest. Coming to the JC, the pass rate this year stands at 82.01 per cent, while in 2022 it was 83.93 per cent. This shows a percentage decrease of 0.17 per cent in 2023 when compared with 2022. In 2021, the pass rate for the JC examination stood at 84.11 per cent, while in 2020 it was 84.49 per cent.

In 2019, the pass rate was 85.92 per cent. An overall analysis for the five years (2019 to 2023), shows that this years’ JC results are the poorest. Meanwhile, a summary of the JC results reflects that a total number of 19 079 candidates registered for the examination in 2023, whereas in 2022 there were 20 206 entries.This shows a 5.58 per cent decline in candidature in 2023 when compared with 2022.

Examined

From the 19 079 who registered, only 18 559 candidates sat the examination, while in 2022 a total of 19 552 were examined. This means that candidates who registered but did not write the examination in 2023 were 520, while a total of 684 absentees were recorded in 2022. A decrease was also noted in the number of candidates who attained Merit passes in the JC examination, as the figure stood at 961, while in 2022 it was 978.

This shows a percentage decrease of 0.17 per cent in 2023 when compared with 2022. An improvement was noted in the number of candidates who obtained First Class passes, as the figure stood at 1 726 while in 2022 there were only about 1 617. This means that the number of First Class passes increased by 1.02 per cent in 2023, when compared with 2022. The number of second class passes also decreased by 2.25 per cent when compared with 2022 as it stood at 9 207 against 10 202 in the latter year.

About 3 325 candidates attained Third Class passes in 2023, while there were 3 589 in 2022.The poor performance is also reflected in the number of candidates who did not make in the JC examination as it stood at 3 340 while in 2022 it was 3 136. Meanwhile, for the EPC examination, a total of 26 647 candidates registered for the examination while in 2022 the figure stood at 28 038. This shows a decrease by 4.96 per cent. Of the 26 647, who registered, 26 411 sat for the examination while in 2022 about 27 773 were recorded to have eventually written it.

Only 830 candidates attained merit passes in 2023, while in 2022 a total of 984 achieved this grade. The number of First Class passes in 2023 were 3 282, while in 2022 the figure stood at 3 330. Just like it happened with the JC examination, the number of candidates who did not make it in 2023 was higher when compared to the year 2022 as it was 2 295 against 2 239.

Normalised

When presenting the results yesterday, Minister Nxumalo recounted how the school calendar was normalised in 2023, which meant that instructional time progressed smoothly following that schools could not close due to occurrences such as the COVID-19 pandemic and political unrest all of which affected the school calendar. The minister said inasmuch as the school calendar was normalised, the effects of the pandemic and the unrest were still being felt in the learning setting.

However, he said despite all the challenges, the ministry appreciated the hard work done by head teachers, teachers, learners and parents during the 2023 academic year. “Teachers worked tirelessly to cover the syllabus and most of our learners embraced the opportunity to learn. The ministry is grateful to teachers, head teachers and parents for their joint effort in preparing learners for the 2023 external examination,” said Nxumalo.

Elaborating

Elaborating, the minister said the Examinations Council of Eswatini (ECESWA) reverted to the normal marking mode which meant that marking commenced after all the examinations for that session had been written. In the past two years, the minister said, a business unusual tactic had been used by ECESWA as marking was done whilst the examinations were still in progress. He commended ECESWA for delivering the EPC and JC examination results in record time.

“The early release of results will give parents and guardians enough time to look for spaces for their children.
Also highlighted by the minister was that this year, candidates from 32 pilot schools also sat down for the first ever Checkpoint Assessment, which is a series of diagnostic tests to check the learning progress of learners and inform teachers about their learning needs. The minister said the Checkpoint Assessment was written by candidates in Form III and for the marking, ECESWA recruited JC markers.

On another note, the minister congratulated the learners for working hard when preparing for the examinations.
He said to candidates who did not make it, there was no need to lose hope but instead, they needed to try again and continue working hard. “As the successful learners will be looking for place in Forms 1 and VI, may I remind all head teachers to follow the ministry’s policies and procedures by admitting all qualifying students regardless of their pass categories,” said Nxumalo.

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