08 Feb 2021

The Botswana Examinations council (BEC) has released the 2020 Junior Certificate Examination with an average credit grade rate of 35.80 per cent down from 37.50 per cent in 2019 for government schools.

According to a press release from BEC, the overall performance for government schools indicated that 84.20 per cent of candidates obtained Grades E or better as compared to 85.50 percent in 2019.

The release also states that the pass grade have experienced a decline of about 1.30 per cent while the credit grade declined by 1. 70 per cent representing a similar cohort as that of 2019.

It is also stated that overall performance for all 2020 JCE candidates which includes government schools, private schools and private candidates indicates that 80.72 per cent of candidates obtained Grades E or better (pass grades) compared to 84.76 per cent in 2019 showing a significant decline of 4.04 per cent.

The release also says performance indicates that 33.16 per cent of candidates obtained Grades C or better (credit grades) compared to 35.38 per cent in 2019 implying a 2.22 per cent decline.

Meanwhile the overall pass rate for the 2020 JCE cohort is reported to be 80.72 per cent with female candidates having outperformed their male counterparts.

Furthermore the release states that 43 883 candidates sat for the examination, representing an increase of about 7per cent in candidature compared to 41 048 candidates in 2019.

There were 21 683 (49 per cent) male candidates and 22 200 (51 per cent) female candidates sitting for the 2020 Junior Certificate Examination according to the release.

 From 43 883 candidates who sat for the examination,11 candidates obtained Merit compared to only three in 2019, which is the highest number recorded since 2010.

485 candidates achieved Grade A, while 4187 obtained grade B, 9 865 candidates at Grade C, and 14 924 at Grade D.

The number of candidates who obtained Grade E is 5 947 and  6 626 candidates got Grade E. BOPA