By Otto Abut
The National Examination Council (NEC) has pledged to complete the marking and release the South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education (SSCSE) results by late February, ahead of the 2026 academic year.
A total of 44,364 candidates are sitting for the exams this year, including 25,863 males (58%), 18,501 females (42%), and 667 refugees. The candidates are distributed across 510 schools and 349 examination centers nationwide.
NEC Secretary-General Dr. Athian Athian Bak said marking will begin immediately after the release of the Primary Eight (CPE) results in February, noting that the Ministry of Finance has committed support to ensure timely processing.
Dr. Athian said they have recorded a decrease of 5,604 candidates, which he attributed to the increase in examination fees intended to cover the cost of administering the exams.
“We noticed a decrease of 5,604 candidates. We believe this reduction is attributed to the increase in examination fees, which were used to cover the cost of the exams.”
During the bell-ringing ceremony, Vice President Josephine Lagu, who chairs the Service Cluster, warned both students and education officials against any form of examination malpractice. She urged candidates to rely on what they have learned throughout their secondary education.
The Minister of General Education and Instruction, Hon. Kuyok Abol Kuyok, described the examinations as a vital step for students transitioning to higher learning.
“These exams are crucial as the candidates are preparing for university,” he said. The minister also emphasized the need for the prompt release of Primary Eight results to allow the next academic year to begin on schedule.