HARGEISA (Somalilandpress) — The largest number of students in the country sat for their final primary and high school 2009/2010 exams on Saturday across all regions of the country.
A total of 12,946 students from 205 schools sat for their final exams that will see successful grade eight students move to High schools while students preparing their finals for the form four will move to higher education institutions. According to Mr Da’ud Ahmed Farah, the ministry of education’s Examination Board Chairman, 4042 students sat for the high school final exams while 8904 students sat for primary school exam from 165 schools and will move to high school.
This is the largest number of students since Somaliland restored it’s sovereignty from Somalia in 1991 and the 12th examination for high school pupils since the split of the republic, while for primary school it was the 14th time.
Last year, 11,294 candidates appeared for the grade eight and form four examinations, making this year an increase of 1,652 students.
Somaliland high school students must pass exams covering school work completed from form one to form four. All candidates will have to sit both Core (Paper1) and Extended (Paper 2) for English and mathematics and all other subjects candidates will sit only one exam paper. Students are recommended to take up to 7-9 subjects even though they can study more as elective subjects.
Some of the core subjects in Somaliland’s national education curriculum include: agriculture, Arabic, biology, business, chemistry, geography, history, Islamic studies, mathematics, physical education, physics, Somali and teaching.
Mr Farah warned any students engaged in malpractices including using mobile phones during the examination would not be spared. He added anyone caught cheating will be dealt with accordingly while mobile phones will be confiscated.
Mr Farah also urged parents to pay attention to academic activities and remained them to effectively perform their parental role towards the children by helping them develop the right values at tender ages, especially that of hard work.
The examinations will go for a week.
