Swazi Observer

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JC PASS RATE UP, EPC DOWN

By SITHEMBILE HLATSHWAYO | 2024-12-27

WHILE a slight improvement has been attained in the 2024 Junior Certificate (JC) results, a decline was recorded in the Standard V results.

The JC recorded a national pass rate of 83.15 per cent, an increase of 1.14 per cent compared to last year, where the pass rate stood at 82.01 per cent.

On the other hand, the 2024 Eswatini Primary Certificate (EPC) national pass rate stood at 90.79 per cent. In 2023, it was 91.31 per cent, reflecting a decrease of 0.52 per cent.

According to the summary of results, there were 2 782 failures recorded in the 2024 JC Examinations, compared to 3 340 learners, who did not make it last year, indicating a decrease of 1.14 per cent.

There were 699 candidates, who attained merit passes, showing a decrease of 0.95 per cent when compared with 2023.

A total of 1 665 candidates attained First Class passes in 2024, showing a decrease of 0.78 per cent when compared to 2023. The number of Second Class passes also decreased by 3.33 per cent in 2024 when compared with 2023, as 8 742 candidates received Second Class passes in 2024 while there were 9 207 Second Class passes in 2023.

Furthermore, a total of 2 625 candidates attained Third Class passes, while there were 3 325 in 2023, showing a decrease of 1.7 per cent.

This year 16 513 candidates sat for the examination, while in 2023 there were 18 559. Candidates who were absent in 2024 totalled 356, while in 2023 the number was 520.

Notably, there were 16 777 candidates who registered for the JC examination in 2024, whereas in 2023 there were 18 940 entries.

This shows an 11.24 per cent decline in candidature in 2024 when compared with 2023.
Meanwhile, in the EPC examinations, 1 043 candidates attained merits in 2024, while in 2023 there were 830 candidates who achieved this grade.

The number of First Class passes in 2024 was 3 547, while in 2023 there were 3 282 candidates.
A total of 15 084 candidates attained Second Class passes in 2024, while there were 13 747 in 2023, and the number of third class passes was 7 088 in 2024, while in 2023 there were 6 257 candidates who received this grade.

The number of candidates who did not pass in the 2024 EPC Examination level was 2 716, while in 2023 there were 2 295 candidates who did not pass.

Manzini tops again in JC, EPC

THE Manzini region once more proved to be the best in academic excellence, attaining 84.81 per cent and 95.01 per cent in the 2024 JC and EPC Examinations respectively.

Hhohho region followed in the Junior Certificate, achieving 83.59 per cent, while Lubombo came third with 81.46 per cent.

Shiselweni region came last, attaining 81.29 per cent. The Shiselweni region came second in the EPC results, ahead of Hhohho, which attained 89.79 per cent and last was Lubombo, obtaining 85.24 per cent.

Manzini Regional Education Officer (REO) Sizwe Kunene pointed out that since 2021, the region had been excelling in all results categories. Kunene mentioned that their strategy revolves around building greatness in leaders.

“Every year, we have a team talk with our headteachers to say this is how we need to inspire our learners,” said Kunene.

He noted that ever since theyapplied this strategy, they had been performing at the top of their game.

“We have seen that for the past four years, the region is shining and will continue to shine as we are working as a team and the head teachers are motivated.”

He added that in the past, they realised that the Manzini region schools were not performing well, and they convened to establish how they could be assisted. Kunene stated that it was during this support that they discovered that when they came together to discuss issues affecting schools, solutions were reached.

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