PSLE results better than last year
Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) on Monday released the 2018 Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) results. Out of a total of 46 432 candidates that sat for the examination, 8 941 obtained Grade A. Eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty-seven (8857) got Grade B, 15 963 obtained Grade C, while 9 094 and 3 501 got grade D and Grade E respectively. Only 29 obtained Grade U. The results indicate an improvement of 1.20 percent from the previous year in Grade C or better. According to BEC Executive Secretary, Professor Brian Mokopakgosi this is a significant improvement because it is an improvement in quality grades. He explained that once there is an improvement at the top, there is a decrease of low grades at the bottom. “Grade A has improved by 2.1 percent and we are happy that there is an improvement at the quality level,” Mokopakgosi said. Another important observation according to Mokopakgosi is that since 2015 girls continue to outperform their male counterparts. This year, girls that sat for the exams were 23 425, while boys were 23 007. This year, girls outperformed boys in all subjects. Ghanzi is this year’s most improved region by 6.07 percent in quality grades, while South East is the highest performer in quality followed by North East. Currently, there is 19.14 percent of candidates at Grade B compared to 18.78 percent in 2017, representing a slight increase of 0.36 percent. At the pass grades (Grades D and E), the proportion of candidates at Grade D has decreased by 2.04 percent from 21.62 percent in 2017 to 19.58 percent in 2018. However, there has been an increase of 0.99 percent from 6.55 percent in 2017 to 7.54 percent in 2018 at Grade E. Candidates are able to access the results through the BEC Website; www.bec.co.bw as well as through the SMS line 16688 across all mobile networks. Meanwhile, BEC expects to release the Junior Certificate Examination results in the third week of January 2019 and BGCSE in the second week of February 2019. PSLE, according to Professor Mokopakgosi are examinations designed and intended to diagnose gaps and challenges in the learning process so that feedback can be given to those involved in teaching, especially at junior secondary entry level. “These exams assist schools to assess students so that as they proceed from Standard Seven to Form One, teachers at Form One are in a position to know areas of emphasis,” Mokopakgosi said.