Grade 10 sit for exams

By Kolopu Waima

More than 45,000 grade 10 students throughout Papua New Guinea sat for their final lower Secondary School Certificate examination yesterday.

And they have to be competitive and score good grades because there are only 116 secondary and National high schools nationwide for them to further their formal education.

These grade 10s are from the 237 schools. Also, 17,035 grade 12 students from 116 schools will sit their final upper Secondary School Certificate examination on October 22 to November 2, 2012.

Meanwhile, 100,402 grade eight students from 2480 schools will sit for the Certificate of Basic Education final examination from November 5 to 8. 

Acting Secretary for the Department of Education Luke Taita mentioned the importance of the examination, saying the examinations were a way of measuring the students’ competence and understanding of the content of the curriculum taught to them.

Mr Taita said the National Examination was important for the Department of Education to know whether the curriculum had been taught well and the resources being provided to students were of acceptable quality and standard. 

Most of the students felt that they were let down due to a one-week delay, but all eagerly turned up early to go to school to sit for the exam.

All the schools in the National Capital District started their exams smoothly and no student came late for the exam.

Deputy Principal Academic for one school Patrick Keanga said all his 219 grade 10 students had arrived at school on time or at least in time to sit for the exam. He said although the exam was deferred by one week, teachers continued to encourage the students and notified the parents that the deferral was something that was beyond their control. He said if any student arrived late for exams (after 8.30 am), he/she would not be allowed to sit the exam. Mr Keanga said the students were looking forward to doing the other 11 papers. 

Today, the students will be doing business studies, Agriculture is on Thursday and Social Science on Friday. On Monday, October 15, students will sit for science exams, followed by expressive arts, practical skills, home economics, personal development and conclude with the English paper on Friday, October 19. 

The 17,035 grade 12 students will sit for their exam starting October 22 to November 2.