BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – A total of 29 635 candidates registered for the examination in 2024, while in 2023 there were 26 647 entries.
This was said today, December 23, 2024 by Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo when releasing Junior Certificate (JC) and Eswatini Primary Certificate (EPC) results at the Ministry’s Conference Room in Mbabane.
According to Nxumalo, the 2024 EPC examinations registration shows an increase by 11.21 percent in 2024, when compared with 2023 entries. Of the 29 635 candidates that registered, 29 478 were examined. In 2023, 26 411 candidates eventually sat for the examination. A total of 157 absentees were recorded in 2024, while in 2023, 237 candidates did not sit for the examination.
However, despite the increase in the examination registration, the national pass rate declined in the EPC examinations. The national pass rate for the 2024 examination stands at 90.79 percent. In 2023, it was 91.31% and this reflects a decrease of 0.52%. According to the minister, merit passes recorded for 2024 improved, as 1 043 candidates attained merits in 2024, while in 2023 a total of 830 candidates achieved this grade. Below is a list showing the class passes achieved in the 2024 EPC examinations:
Merit: 1 043, while there were 380 in 2023
First class: 3 547, while there were 3 282 in 2023
Second class: 15 084, while there were 13 747 in 2023
Third class: 7 088, while there were 6 257 in 2023
Those who did not make it were 2 717, while there 2 295 of those in 2023
Country statistics by region
- Manzini obtained a pass rate of 95.01% (highest pass rate)
- Shiselweni obtained a pass rate of 93.26%
- Hhohho obtained a pass rate of 89.79%
• Lubombo obtained a pass rate of 85.24% (lowest pass rate)
