Data Story: 12.34% rise in the number of pupils registered for the certificate of primary education examinations this year.

The previous year, 53,220 enrolled for the exams comprising 31,232 males and 21,988 females. This year, 60,714 candidates, 34,505 males and 26,209 females, registered.

Writer: Emmanuel Bida Thomas

This week, pupils across South Sudan will write their Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) examinations for the academic year 2022. 

The Ministry of General Education and Instruction says that a total of 60,714 candidates, 34,505 males and 26,209 females, have dully registered for the examination, which began on Monday, February 13, 2023.

However, as compared to the previous year, when 53,220 candidates, including 31,232 males and 21,988 females, registered, this year’s number shows a 12.34 per cent increase in the number of candidates.

Male candidates increased by 3,273 from 31,232 in the 2021/22 exams, and female candidates also grew by 4,221 from 21,988 the previous year.

The increase in male candidates accounts for 9.49% of the increase, while the increase in female candidates accounts for 16.11% of the increase.

YearMalesFemalesTotal
2017/1826,53315,46041,993
2018/1930,48018,00048,480
2019/2034,82521,96256,787
2020/2132,54920,69362,362
2021/2231,23221,98853,220
2022/2334,50526,20960,714

Table showing statistics of CPE candidates for the past six years

The presented data indicates that there has been a 12.34% increase in the number of candidates registered for the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) examinations in South Sudan for the academic year 2022, in comparison to the previous year. Out of a total of 60,714 registered candidates, 34,505 are male, and 26,209 are female. Notably, the percentage increase in male candidates stands at 9.49%, while that of female candidates is 16.11%. The South Sudan National Examinations Council (SSNEC) has demonstrated exceptional efforts in registering a significant number of candidates this year, notwithstanding challenges such as insecurity and feeding difficulties in some regions of the country, as noted by the Minister for General Education and Instruction, Awut Deng Acuil.

Fact-check: This photo is not of Ugandans killed in Juba

A claim on Twitter that Ugandans were shot dead in Juba for burning charcoal on February 10, 2023, is false and misleading.

Writer: Emmanuel Bida Thomas

A claim by a Twitter user in a tweet on February 10, 2023, that “Ugandans were shot dead in Juba for burning charcoal” is false.

“On 30th January 2023, Ugandans were shot dead in Juba for burning charcoal. The incident comes in a period when thousands of Ugandans have been being killed without both governments taking concern,” the tweet reads in part.

A similar tweet was made by another user here.

Though the tweet received little attention on social media, it makes a highly misleading claim, particularly to audiences who do not follow credible media reports from South Sudan.

Screenshot of the Tweet as shared on 10/02/2023

So, what makes this claim incorrect? Here’s a quick overview:

A Google reverse image search yields the same image that was used on Facebook and Twitter on February 2, 2023. It depicts the bodies of over 20 Kajo-keji residents killed in a cattle-related incident in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State. They were buried in a mass grave in Kajo-Keji.

According to Radio Tamazuj and Eye Radio, the victims were unarmed civilians at Likamerok Boma in Lire Payam, Kajo-keji county. These reports make no mention of Ugandans.

A keyword search for “Ugandans killed in South Sudan 2023” on Google yields no results for any news report about the incident depicted in the tweet’s photo. This year, no Ugandans have been killed in South Sudan.

Conclusion:

The claim that Ugandans were among those killed in a photo shared on Facebook and Twitter on February 2, 2023, is false. The image shows over 20 Kajo-keji residents who were killed in a cattle-related incident in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State, and no credible news reports mention any Ugandans being among the victims.

Fight misinformation on both mainstream and alternative media by not being a victim of fake news. Refrain from sharing content that you are unsure about or don’t know where it comes from to prevent spreading false information. For more information on our fact-checking process, visit https://211check.org/ or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 to present a claim. Our team will fact-check it and respond promptly. #FactsMatter.