By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
In the just-announced National Primary School Examination (NPSE) results, it is noted that 8 or (73%) of the 11 top performers in the 2023 examinations were girls.
The results were published by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) on the 18th of July 2023.
The MBBSE report indicated that the highest aggregate T-score obtained in the 2023 Primary School leavers exam was 339 (three hundred and thirty-nine).
The NPSE report from the MBSSE stated that the 2023 results were released by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to the Ministry on Saturday 15th July 2023. It stated that result packages are being prepared for forwarding to all schools that entered candidates.
The ministry announced that entries for 2023 were 1,792 (one thousand, seven hundred and ninety-two) which is said to be greater than the 2022 NPSE with an increase of approximately 1%.
From the results received, NPSE candidate entry for 2023 was 163,860 (one hundred and sixty-three thousand, eight hundred and sixty) compared to 2022 when it was 162,068 (one hundred and sixty-two thousand, and sixty-eight). Results received were for 4,790 (four thousand, seven hundred and ninety) primary schools in 2023 compared to 4,635 (four thousand, six hundred and thirty-five) schools in 2022.
The ministry’s report indicated that the entry figure for 2023 comprised 80,129 (eighty thousand, one hundred and twenty-nine) which represents 48.9% boys and 83,731 (eighty-three thousand, seven hundred and thirty-one) girls, representing 51.1% compared with 79,617 (seventy-nine thousand, six hundred and seventeen) boys that represent 49.1% and 82,451 (eighty-two thousand, four hundred and fifty one) girls, represent 50.9% in 2022.
Statistics, according to the report show that out of 163,685 (one hundred and sixty-three thousand, six hundred and eighty-five) candidates that took the exams, 83,640 (eighty-three thousand, six hundred and forty) girls and 80,045 (eighty thousand, and forty-five) boys sat at least one subject in the 2023 NPSE. It explained that a total of 175 (one hundred and seventy-five) candidates which represent 91 girls and 84 boys were absent for all subjects.
It analyzed that 133,129 (one hundred and thirty-three thousand, one hundred and twenty-nine) candidates comprising 67,848 (sixty-seven thousand, eight hundred and forty-eight) girls and 65,281(sixty-five thousand, two hundred and eighty one) boys, passed the NPSE in 2023.
It compared to the 131,433 (one hundred and thirty-one thousand, four hundred and thirty-three) candidates, comprising 65,152 (sixty-five thousand, one hundred and fifty-two) boys and 66,281 (sixty-six thousand, two hundred and eighty one) girls, who passed the NPSE in 2022.
“The aforementioned candidates are those whose aggregate scores were on or above the cut-off score of 230 stipulated in 2023 by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education,” part of the report reads.
There’s an overall pass rate of 81.3%, with boys accounting for a pass rate of 81.6% and girls at 81.1%. It stated that the overall pass rate for 2023 is very slightly above the 2022 pass rate of 81.2% and the girls’ pass rate of 80.5%.
Hence, it said despite the 2023 girls’ pass rate which is slightly lower than that of the boys, it should be noted that more girls both sat and passed the examination than boys.
The two best students this year -Floydalin Davies with an aggregate of 339 s and Floyd Davies- aggregate of 336 are both twin siblings from Murray-Deen Preparatory School in Freetown.
Expressing how he felt as a father after his two kids clinched the first and second position at the just announced NPSE result, Lawyer Floyd Alex Davies told Politico that it was the happiest moment for him and any parent. He thanked God, saying even though he knew that his children are smart, it is the will of God to achieve such glory out of the many students that sat for the exams.
He attributed their children’s success to the hard work by his wife Melinda Davies (also a lawyer) whom he said amidst her busy schedule has time to help them study at home. He also thanked the Murray-Deen Preparatory School teachers for the class competitiveness that helped the kids to achieve such success.
Lawyer Davies explained that despite the twins attending extra Mathematics and English lessons, they share positive competition by challenging each other whenever they have assignments to do.
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