Examinations 2017 Results: Education Department Acknowledged 28 Schools out of 301 Grade 10 and 164 Grade 12 Schools

Re-posted​

THE Education Department has recognised 28 high and secondary schools in the country who have put in a lot of effort to improve their academic performance.

Secretary Dr Uke Kombra presented the Best Academic Performing School and the Most Improved School awards to the schools based on the grade 10 and grade 12 examination results.

The top 10 academic performing schools for grade 10 are:

1. Oksapmin High School in West Sepik, 
2. St Charles Lwanga High (NCD), 
3. Gordon Secondary School (NCD), 
4. Cameron Secondary School (Milne Bay), 
5. Jubilee Catholic Secondary (NCD), 
6. Manus Secondary (Manus), 
7. Busu Secondary (Morobe), 
8. Mercy Secondary (East Sepik),
9. Mt Hagen Secondary (WHP) and
10. *not indicated from the source.

The five most improved schools for grade 10 are:

1. Kompiam High School (Enga), 
2. Sacred Heart Tapini Secondary (Central), 
3. Misima High (Milne Bay), 
4. Kiriwina High (Milne Bay) and 
5. Yano High (Central).

The 10 Academic Performing schools for grade 12 are: 

1. Port Moresby National High (NCD), 
2. Marianville Secondary (NCD), 
3. Kerevat National High (ENB), 
4. Wawin National High (Morobe), 
5. Sogeri National High (Central), 
6. Aiyura National High (EHP), 
7. Cameron Secondary (Milne Bay), 
8. St Ignatius Secondary (West Sepik), 
9. Passam National High (ESP), and 
10. Mt Hagen Secondary (WHP).

The five most improved schools for grade 12 are:

1. Utmei Secondary (ENB), 
2. Busu Secondary (Morobe), 
3. Ecom Secondary (Manus), 
4. Manggai Secondary (New Ireland) and 
5. Buin Secondary (AROB).

“We want to recognise those schools which are making more effort to make a difference in the students’ life and academic life, so we want to reinforce schools to put in more effort towards students’ education” Kombra said.

“Out of the 301 high and secondary schools that sat for the grade 10 national examinations and 164 secondary schools that sat for the grade 12 exams, we know there are many challenges that are affecting schools in their own contexts.”

2023 GRADE 12 EXAMINATIONS - CHANGES TO THE NATIONAL EXAMINATION DATES

The Acting Secretary for Education Dr Uke Kombra has advised all the Provincial Administrators, Chairpersons of the Provincial Education Boards, Provincial Education Advisors, Church Education Secretaries, Principals of Secondary Schools, Secondary Schools Standards Officers and Board Chairpersons of Secondary Schools of the changes to the 2016 Grade 12 National Examination dates.

Check out the 2023 Gazetted Public Holiday PDF file here and download it!

Here is the latest on PNG Education Calendar (exam dates, school holiday dates and public holidays)

The changes were made because principals of some schools have not complied with the standard procedures used to guide students to select subject combinations. This situation has forced the Department to revise this year’s Grade 12 National Examination Timetable to be conducted for two weeks when it should have taken only one week.

The Secretary’s Circular Instruction has been issued on 7/9/16 to advise the schools and provincial authorities about the recent changes so that they can familiarize themselves before the scheduled Grade 12 Examination is conducted on Monday, 17th October to Wednesday, 26th October as shown on the revised timetable below:

Day/Date Examination Paper Time

Monday 17/10/16 Advance Mathematics 1 and General Mathematics 1 8 am – 10.30 am

Tuesday 18/10/16 Physics 8 am – 10.30 am

History 11am – 1.30 pm

Wednesday19/10/16 Chemistry 8 am – 10.30 am

Economics 11am -1.30 pm

Thursday 20/10/16 Language & Literature 1 and Applied English 8 am – 10:30 am

Geography 11am – 1.30 pm

Friday 21/10/16 Advance Mathematics 2 and General Mathematics 2 8 am- 10.30 am

Information Communication Technology 11 am – 1.30 pm

Monday 24/10/16 Applied Science 8 am – 10.30 am

Accounting 11am – 1.30 pm

Tuesday 25/10/16 Biology 8 am – 10.30 am

Legal Services 11am – 1.30 pm

Wednesday 26/10/16 Business Studies 8 am – 10.30 am

Geology 11 am – 1.30 pm

Here is the latest on PNG Education Calendar (exam dates, school holiday dates and public holidays)

Dr. Kombra instructed all examinations to be administered on the time and dates as published and not based on Measurement Service’s calendar 2016 as the new changes supersede the initial timings already printed on the Examination Booklets, especially for History, Economics, Applied Science, Accounting, Biology, Legal Studies, Business Studies and Geology.

Any time other than the timings given will nullify the Examination and the Examination Marks will not be used for the moderation of the final results.

The Secretary’s Circular also reminded everyone that the penalty for cheating or assisting to cheat in the National Examination is Non-Certification, and the External invigilators, Schools and Standards Officers must report all observed malpractices to the Measurement Services Division for analysis and action.

The teachers are not allowed to view, read or access Exam Papers while conducting the exams. Mobile phones are also banned from the Exam Rooms for students and all school personnel. Principals and Deputy Principals must stay in school during all exams and enforce strict implementation of the schedule and abide by all Measurement Services regulations relating to examinations.

All concerned parties have been urged to make every effort to give all students and schools “a fair go” and to be honest and say NO to examination cheating.

PRESS STATEMENT

DR. UKE KOMBRA, PhD

Acting Secretary for Education

RETENTION: A SHOCKING 96% OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS DROP-OUT

PNG government and education department would have realised that a large portion of teenagers is missing out on higher education. Stats are indicating a sad situation where over 96% of primary school students are pushed out of the system just 4 years before they could have had a chance to get a tertiary education. 

Technical or vocational education

The point here is not about Grade 12 students entering colleges or universities, but having a plan for MOST of the Year 8s to get technical or vocational education. 

It is more important to take them on board the education train than to leave them on their own to fend for themselves at such an early age.

The  Acting Education Secretary, Dr Kombra, in a newspaper report revealed that this year (2015) 120 000 Grade 8, 59 000 Grade 10 and 23 200 Grade 12 students would be taking national examinations. But, there are fewer than 4500 spaces at tertiary institutions.

Numbers of students in grades 8, 10 and 12 

Take a look at the table showing the numbers of students in grades 8, 10 and 12 compared to spaces available to them after leaving school at the age of 18 years.

Retention is the problem, not dropout: students do drop out at will sometimes but those pushed out are more than those leaving. 

So, the government has the responsibility to do something- anything it can- to increase spaces at tertiary level. If this trend is left unchecked, the government's plan to give the younger generation a proper education would not be realised.

Expanding primary and secondary schools

Primary and secondary schools (then community and high schools) mushroomed whereas spaces at tertiary institutions remain low since structural changes took place. 

The number of students entering lower and upper secondary schools increases proportionately, too.

One can also argue that number of students is further growing as a result of the government's free education policy. 

Vocational schools and technical colleges - Key

Go back to the village and you'll find youngsters are going back to the classroom after years outside. This is not a bad thing. 

However, the point is where else they go after they are given this second chance. Do something to improve their chance of getting into vocational schools and technical colleges. 

If the government is really serious about educating the younger generations, it has to start putting its money where its mouth is - increase retention within the system, especially at the vocational and technical training sector.

This does not mean only creating new institutions but expanding the number of spaces available to students at existing higher learning institutions. 

This is surely not a lot to ask. 

96% of Grade 8 students drop out

Of tthe 120,000+ Grade 8 students who sat for the annual exams, only 4% of them will eventually enter a tertiary institution in the country. 

You do the maths. It is insanity.

Why give Year 8 students false hope - hope that one day they could be entering a university or college when 96% are bound for the villages or streets?

Any goals in our National education plans, medium or long term, would not be of any meaning if only 4% of 15 and 16-year-olds will enter higher learning institutions. 

It would be BETTER if 96% make it through, wouldn’t it? The onus is now on the government and leaders in education circles to see through the problem and find an immediate solution.  

120 000 Grade 8, 59 000 Grade 10 and 23 200 Grade 12 students To Sit Examinations in 2015

More than 59,000 Grade 10 students in 256 schools will sit for their weeklong School Certificate Examination (SCE) from next week, an official says.

Secretary for Education Dr Uke Kombra said: “We have reduced the national examined subjects from 12 to seven as of this year.

“The other subjects will still be assessed and results will be based on the internal assessment.”

He said the subjects examined are English, mathematics, social science, science, personal development and two optional subjects.

The examinations will be conducted from Oct 12 to 16.

Kombra said preparations for Grade 8, Grade 10 and Grade 12 examinations were well underway.

Grade 10 SEC papers are currently being dispatched to the provinces.

“All provincial education advisers and examination supervisors are urged to ensure that the examination papers are well secured before they are dispatched to the respective schools.

A total of 23,200 Grade 12 students from 146 secondary schools will be sitting for their Higher School Certificate Examinations (HSCE) from Oct 19-30.

“About 120,000 Grade 8 students from 2,663 schools will sit for the Certificate of Basic Education Examinations (COBE) from Nov 2-5.”

Kombra appealed to everyone to support fair conduct of exams and to report any malpractice to school administrations, provincial and national authorities or Police for appropriate action.

“There are strategies already in place to minimise and avoid cheating in schools.

Source: The National, Tuesday October 6th, 2015 || By SHEILA MALKEN