Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, has announced that Kadijah Yawa Joe from Dele Nursery & Preparatory School in Wellington, emerged as the top-performing student in the 2025 National Primary School Examination (NPSE) with a T-score of 346.
The results were released by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on July 17, nearly a month ahead of last year’s schedule.
Minister Sackey reported that a total of 171,112 pupils registered for the NPSE this year, with 88,494 girls and 82,618 boys participating.
This marks an increase of over 6,000 candidates compared to the previous year. Of those, 165,341 pupils sat for at least one paper, although 5,771 candidates were absent, a concerning trend that the ministry is investigating.
The overall pass rate for the examination stands at 78.2%, with 128,766 candidates meeting or exceeding the official cutoff score of 230. Notably, the pass rate for boys was slightly higher at 78.5%, compared to 77.9% for girls. However, more girls participated and passed the exam overall.
Highlighting individual excellence, Minister Sackey congratulated Mansaray Kadijah Yawa Joe, a female student from Dele Nursery & Preparatory School, for achieving the highest score with an impressive T-score of 346.
In addition to Dele Nursery & Preparatory School’s success, the International College of Makeni Primary School also received accolades for achieving a 100% pass rate and the highest average aggregate score of 332.39.
Other notable performers included Romans International Academy, Modern Academy School of Excellence, Therenisa Memorial Primary School in Bo, and Shalom Ville Schools.
The Minister expressed concern over the rising number of absentees for the second consecutive year, emphasizing the need for thorough investigation into the causes. He reiterated a commitment to tightening monitoring and enforcement against cheating.
Result packages are currently being distributed to schools, and a detailed technical report, including district-by-district performance, will be available on the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) website next week. Pupils will require their primary school leaving certificate and an official result slip signed by their head teacher for secondary school admissions.
Minister Sackey extended his gratitude to head teachers, classroom teachers, parents, and education officers for their contributions to the students’ success. He encouraged all candidates, stating, “To those who didn’t make it, don’t give up. We are working hard to ensure better teaching and learning outcomes for every child.”
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