By Mohamed Foday Conteh
Analysis of the results of the just released National Primary School Examination, (NPSE) by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education has revealed that a total of 196 schools across the country got a zero percent pass rate in the exam out of a total of 4,296 (four thousand two hundred and ninety-six) schools with 25 from neighbouring Guinea.
The 196 schools according to the ministry’s analysis, registered 2,911 NPSE candidates out of a total of 161,691 (one hundred and sixty one thousand six hundred and ninety one) that took the examination including 377 from Guinea.
“The heads of these schools, accompanied by their proprietors and District Deputy Directors of Education will be invited to the Ministry to explain and help map out actions that will improve learning and performance in the affected schools,” the statement reads.
However, the analysis noted that this year recorded more pass rates than in 2021. “867 out of 4,296 schools (20%) had 100% pass rates. This is an increase from the 19% of schools that had 100% pass rates in 2020. 272 schools had pass rates of less than 10%,” it reads.
The Western Region leads the chart with 263 schools having 100% pass rates followed by the North 186, East 157, North-West 132 and the Southern Region 128 schools . Only one school in Guinea achieved 100% pass rates.
124,541 (one hundred and twenty four thousand, five hundred and forty one) candidates comprising 62,024 (Sixty two thousand and twenty four) boys and 62,517 (sixty two thousand five hundred and seventeen) female candidates passed the NPSE in 2021 with Jason Pokawa, 11, a male candidate scoring the highest aggregate.
Speaking to Politico with his Dad’s permission, Jason admonished other pupils planning to take the exam to be hardworking and those that did not make it to be courageous.
“I feel very pleased because all my hard work has paid off,” the boy said.
He said that he will be going for an interview at the Sierra Leone Grammar School where he intends to major in science and spoke of his dream of becoming a neurosurgeon after completing his studies at a medical college someday.
He was also the Head Boy at Murray Deen Preparatory School on Sir Samuel Lewis Road .
Jason lives with his parents; his father George Henry Pokawa is a civil engineer and General Manager at Gemini Construction Company and mother Florella Pokawa, a midwife at the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (Cottage). His elder brother George Pokawa is SSS 3 pupil at the Sierra Leone Grammar School. He said that both his father and elder brother have been his mentors.
George, the father said that they are excited and proud and that it is the dream of any parent for their child to top public exams. He said his son has always been a studious and respectful individual who also likes to explore new things and challenges. He stated that although they as parents are rendering the necessary support to their children, they wish Jason would become a prominent individual in society and look forward to him rendering his services someday to the nation as they the parents are already doing.
The overall pass rate for this year is higher than last year as the results saw a jump of over 3% more than in 2020, according to David Moinina Sengeh, Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE). This comes as the country is battling a third wave of COVID-19 that resulted in intermittent breaks in the academic calendar. However, authorities are planning to return to normalcy as schools are set to open for the new academic year sometime in September this year.
If all goes well, this will give Jason the head start in what is a long journey to becoming a neurosurgeon.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (02/08/21)
