BY MBONGENI NDLELA
MBABANE – Countdown to Form V results day.
Excitement and anxiety are mounting as preparations for the release of the 2024 Form V results near completion.
Exclusive information from the Eswatini Examinations Council (ECESWA) indicates that the results will be released in the first or second week of February, pending final approval.
Exams Council Registrar Dr Mandla Dlamini confirmed that the council is in the final stages of processing.
“On Friday, we will receive experts from the UK to conduct the quality assurance exercise and approve the processing stage. Once approved, we will release the results. It won’t be long now,” Dlamini assured.
Last year’s Form V results (2023 EGCSE and IGCSE) painted a challenging picture, marking the worst performance in six years.
The Eswatini General Certificate in Secondary Education (EGCSE) pass rate dropped to 88.33 per cent from 92.58 per cent in 2022, while the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) fell to 84.07 per cent from 92.32 per cent the previous year.
Despite the setbacks, the Eswatini Prevocational Certificate of Secondary Education (EPCSE) programme delivered an impressive 96.73 per cent pass rate, outperforming both EGCSE and IGCSE candidates.
School leavers across the country are anxiously awaiting their results, which will determine their next steps in education or career aspirations. This year’s results are highly anticipated, with hopes for a turnaround after last year’s dip in performance.
With final assessments underway, ECESWA’s commitment to accuracy and fairness ensures that students can trust the integrity of their results. The countdown has begun, and the nation’s students are ready to see their hard work reflected in the numbers.
Meanwhile, in South Africa, the Department of Basic Education published the final National Senior Certificate (NSC) results for the 2024 matric year, showing a percentage point increase in the pass rate to 87.3 per cent.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, speaking during an address to the nation on 13 January 2025, said the matric pass rate was not the only important figure in education, but a strong indicator of progress.
More than 615 000 learners passed the exams – the highest in South Africa’s history.
