After the analysis of the 2023 National Primary School Examination (NPSE) result, this year sees a steady improvement in girls’ education in the country with more girls attempting and passing the examination than boys.
The 2023 National Primary School Examination (NPSE) results were released by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) on Saturday 15th July, 2023.
“Entries for 2023 were 1,792 greater than for the 2022 NPSE. This is an increase of approximately 1%. from the results received, the NPSE candidate entry for 2023 was 163,860 compared to 2022 when it was 162,068. The results received were for 4,790 primary schools compared to 4,635 in 2022. The entry figure comprised of 80,129 (48.9%) boys and 83,731 (51.1%) girls compared with 79,617 (49.1%) boys and 82,451 (50.9%) girls in 2022,” according to the Deputy Chief Education Officer, Madam Adama Momoh.
She said 163,685 candidates (83,640 girls and 80,045 boys) sat at least one subject in the 2023 NPSE, noting that a total of 175 candidates (91 girls and 84 boys) were absent for all subjects.
According to her, the highest aggregate T-score obtained in the 2023 NPSE was 339.
She said 133,129 candidates, of 67,848 girls and 65,281 boys, passed the NPSE in 2023, compared to 131,433 candidates, comprising 65,152 boys and 66,281 girls, who passed the NPSE in 2022. (These are candidates whose aggregate scores were on or above the cut-off score of 230 stipulated by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education).
“The passes correspond to an overall pass rate of 81.3%, a boys’ pass rate of 81.6% and a girls’ pass rate of 81.1%. The overall pass rate is very slightly above the 2022 pass rate of 81.2% and the girls’ pass rate of 80.5%. Despite the 2023 girls’ pass rate being slightly lower than that of the boys, it should be noted that more girls both sat and passed the examination than boys,” she said.
During one of his engagements, President Bio described this moment as the best time to be a girl in Sierra Leone since the country gain independence, noting that the future of Sierra Leone is female. According to him, his aim is to stop teenage pregnancy and early marriage and increase access to education for every kid in Sierra Leone, especially girls.
Augustine Sankoh
Strategic Communications Analyst MBSSE
[email protected]
