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Jan. 10, 2019

KABELO MASOABI

3 min read

JC results a shame

JC results a shame

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…Junior certificate pass rate drops as Maths and English ‘dololo’ The Minister of Education Professor Ntoi Rapapa expressed dissatisfaction over underperformance displayed by the Junior Certificate candidates who scored below mark in the 2018 examinations. The highest performing school only received top average of 68.6%. Of the 22, 308 students who sat for the examinations nationwide, 7,700 failed to meet the minimum requirements for a pass and thus; degrading pass rate to 4% in comparison with the 2017 results.


“I’m displeased with these results that have scored below the pass mark of the previous sitting and there has been a decline in the performance of students who had this time failed Mathematics and English Language in large numbers,” he said when announcing the results on Monday. Prof Rapapa showed his concern over the declining performance in English and Mathematics. He further added that due to this poor performance, MoET has made arrangements for candidates to re-sit examinations in Mathematics and English in June/July, 2019.

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He noted that 407 candidates obtained a First Class with Merit, the number which is higher in comparison with what was observed in 2017 by 0.2 percentage. He highlighted that 1315 candidates acquired a First Class pass, which shows an decrease of 0.8 percentage compared to 2017 results. He added that 10213 students obtained a Second Class pass, reflecting a 3.8 percentage decrease as compared to 2017. He further pointed out that 2673 candidates obtained a Third Class pass, adding that this number has decreased by 0.2 percentage from the 2017 results. He revealed that 7700 students could not meet the minimum requirements for a pass, which is an increase of 4 percentage from the previous year. Professor Rapapa said in total, the number of candidates who have passed 2018 JC examination is 14, 608 constituting 65.5 percentage of all candidates who wrote the examination. He added that this shows a 4 percentage drop in performance as compared to the results of 2017.

He however added his ministry, the Examinations Council of Lesotho and schools would offer the latter a second chance to re-sit for another examination in June in order to upgrade their marks in the above mentioned subjects. He congratulated all candidates who succeeded in their examinations, most of all those in top three positions in the whole country who include Thapelo Mocheko from Leqele High School and Ntsatsi Maseatile of Ts'akholo High School in first position. He added that in second position is Channaganu Sai Harshini of NUL International School, Leseli Lekhooa of Ts'akholo High School, Maleke Lebohang and Sepetla 'Mampati of Leribe English Medium. He stated that in third position is Matlosa Lisebo of Lesotho High School and Mokhele Katleho of St. Stephens High School. He encouraged those who did not succeed to go back and try again, adding that it is just a bend, not the end of the road.

The Leribe district emerged victorious with a top average performance of 68.6% followed by Mohale’s Hoek, 68.3%, Butha-Buthe, 66.9%, and Maseru, 66.6%, respectfully while Quthing came on tail as usual with 45% pass rate. Four hundred and seventy four registered candidates did not write the examinations. Additional reporting by Lena

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