Data Story: 14.59% rise in pupils registered for the certificate of primary education examinations this year

The previous year, 60,714 enrolled for the exams, comprising 34,505 males and 26,209 females. This year, 69,573 candidates, 38,575 males and 30,998 females, registered.

Writer: Emmanuel Bida Thomas

This year, pupils in schools across South Sudan will write their Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) examinations for the academic year 2023 from 20 November 2023 to 24 November 2023. 

The Acting Minister of the Ministry of General Education and Instruction, Martin Tako Moyi, said in a press statement on 18 October 2023 that 69,573 candidates, 38,575 males and 30,998 females, have dully registered for the examination, which began on Monday, 20 November 2023.

However, compared to the previous year, when 60,714 candidates, including 34,505 males and 26,209 females, registered, this year’s number shows a 14.59 per cent increase in the number of candidates.

Male candidates increased by 4,070 from 34,505 in the 2022/23 exams, and female candidates also grew by 4,789 from 26,209 the previous year.

The increase in male candidates accounts for 11.80% of the rise, while the increase in female candidates accounts for 18.27%.

2017 – 2023
Year	Males	Females	Total
2017/18	26,533	15,460	41,993
2018/19	30,480	18,000	48,480
2019/20	34,825	21,962	56,787
2020/21	32,549	20,693	53,242
2021/22	31,232	21,988	53,220
2022/23	34,505	26,209	60,714
2023/24	38,575	30,998	69,573

Table showing the number of Candidates and Examination Centers by State and Administrative Areas

S/No	State/Area	Number of Candidates	Number of Schools
	Abyei Administrative Area	1,035	19
	Central Equatoria State	19,325	428
	Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State	7,536	227
	Ruweng Administrative Area	4,093	37
	Warrap State	7,577	175
	Unity State	3,616	41
	Western Equatoria State	3,813	128
	Western Bahr-el-Ghazal State	4,489	127
	Upper Nile State	5,180	103
	Lakes State	4,944	139
	Greater Pibor Administrative Area	145	5
	Jonglei State	3,076	80
	Eastern Equatoria State	3,952	155
	Egypt	789	23

Conclusion:

The increase in candidates highlights the need for adequate infrastructure and resources to accommodate the growing student population. The government should prioritise investment in schools, classrooms, textbooks, and other learning materials to ensure all students have access to quality education. While the number of female candidates has increased, there is still a gender disparity, with more male candidates than female candidates. Efforts should be made to encourage and support girls’ education, including providing scholarships, addressing cultural barriers, and promoting female role models in education.

Well-trained and motivated teachers are essential for providing quality education. The government should invest in teacher training programs, provide competitive salaries and benefits, and create a supportive working environment to attract and retain qualified teachers. The curriculum should be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure its relevance and effectiveness. Innovative teaching methods, such as incorporating technology and interactive learning, should be adopted to engage students and enhance their learning experience. South Sudan has been plagued by conflict, which has disrupted education for many children. Efforts should be made to increase access to education in conflict-affected areas, including providing safe learning spaces, recruiting and training teachers, and ensuring the availability of learning materials.

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