27,600 candidates up from 7,000 in 2015 to sit for government administered exams Saturday

The government administered exams for the 2017/18 form four class will kick off Saturday in 126 centres, the Ministry of Education.

Education Minister Osman said 27,600 students from three states-Galmudug, HirShabelle, South West, Jubbaland and Banadir regional administration will sit for the exams in accordance with the provisions of the law. Only Puntland will not be participating in the exams according to the Education ministry.

“According to the Education Act, every students must be assessed, results recorded and kept. Every student who completes secondary school must sit for the national examinations,” Osman said.

The minister noted that for the first time, the examination papers were printed in the country and that it was financed through the budget vote allocated to the ministry.

The government has been in the process of standardizing the school curriculum and national examinations which to date are still largely regulated by private school umbrellas which bring together several schools.

The first batch of 7,000 candidates sat for the government administered exams in 2015 and the number has kept increasing with 23,000 sitting for the exams last year.

The private umbrellas still administer exams.