About 17,000 high school candidates to sit for government administered exams in June

A total of 16,324 secondary school students will sit for this year’s joint national examinations conducted by the ministry of education.

The exams, which are the second government examined since the collapse of government in 1991 will take place in 45 centres in Banaadir region.

This is year’s number is more than double last year’s which recorded about 7,000 students. An average of 17,000 students registered for the exams but majority, about 10,000 opted for the private exam system which is managed by private education umbrellas.

The umbrellas are a collection of private schools which set their own syllabi and administer final exams. However students travelling out of the country for studies have to get a government certificate upon payment of $20 fee.

The government is working towards streamlining the education system and centralising exams to avoid students carrying different certificates. However umbrellas have been reluctant to let go of their function to administer exams noting it had been filling the gap for over two decades and should be allowed to continue.

Umbrellas are still fully in charge of private schools exams. Umbrella national exams concluded this month and students preparing for government exams will be writing their papers from mid June.

Imaam Shaafihi in Hodan district recorded the highest number of candidates at 326 while Ablal school in and Capital schools in Helwaa and Hodan districts respectively have the lowest number of candidates each with one.