Primary Leaving Examination kicked off this morning in Central Equatoria state with a bigger number of pupils sitting the examinations that last for seven days.
The exam began with a paper on English and will end with Mathematics, Bakhita Radio reported.State minister for Education Manase Lomole Waya told the press after ringing the first bell of the examinations at Saint Joseph’s Basic School in Juba that 7,743 students were sitting for the exam across Central Equatoria.
Mr. Lomole said close to 5,000 candidates were male and over 2,000 female.
He revealed that 188 returnee pupils were taking their exam in Juba.
Mr. Lomole explained that this year there were more 2,400 pupils sitting for the exam, an increase of about 31 percent compared with last year.
He praised the Government of Southern Sudan for the Go to School initiative.
Mr. Lomole explained that his government moved the primary leaving examination to mid-December due to the upcoming referendum slated January 9, 2011.
He said students will sit for Secondary Leaving Examinations after the referendum.