The Secondary School Entrance Exam results for class six students this year have revealed that Government Primary Schools (GPS) and church primary schools are struggling, with less than 50% of students passing key national examinations

Out of the 2,885 students that sat exams, 1,231 or 42.7% of students passed. The students are from 113 schools including 98 GPS schools and 15 church schools.

At a press conference yesterday, 11 December, the Minister for Education and Training, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni read out the passing examination results for four subjects, English, Mathematics, Science, and Tongan studies (Lea Faka-Tonga).

He said only 25.7% of students passed English, 33.8% passed Mathematics, while 55.9% passed Science and 71.9% passed Tongan studies.

“It’s obvious there are better pass marks for Tongan studies and Science.”

While for English and Mathematics, the average pass level had hovered around 30% since 2016.

“English results in 2016 was 22%, then 17% in 2017, it was 34% last year and this year 25.7%. Whereas Mathematics results in 2016 was 27.9%, in 2017 it was 20%, in 2018 it was 30%, and this year it was 33.8%.”

“We are looking at what factors are causing this,” he said.

These include the curriculum taught and if it related to the examination papers; teachers skills; lack of resources for students; not enough study time; lack of kindergartens; impact of natural disasters such as Cyclone Gita; and school absence, among other factors.

“The Ministry will look at these factors and see what assistance can be given to improve pass results particularly for English and Mathematics.”

He said the Ministry has already set up a unit to follow-up on children not attending schools and “to get to the root of the problem”.

Meanwhile, the Head of Examination Unit, ‘Amelia Folaumahina, Deputy CEO (Quality Assurance) 'Isikeli Oko, and Deputy CEO Schools (Secondary) Ponepate Taunisila also elaborated on solutions. These included investing in teachers, expanding kindergartens throughout the country, encouraging families to ensure children eat breakfast to enhance concentration; and promoting reading at home among others.

This year, GPS Nuku’alofa recorded the highest overall exam result, 368 out of 400.

The top mark recorded for English was 96/100, Maths 96/100, Tongan studies 97/100, and Science 87/100.