02 Mar 2021

The just released 2020 Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) examination results show that the overall performance has declined insignificantly by 1.25 per cent.

 However, the quality of the results is slightly better than that of 2019 as shown by insignificant improvements at grade E or better and C or better, says Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) chief executive officer.

In a press briefing in Gaborone yesterday, Professor Brian Mokopakgosi said  for government schools, the proportion of candidates obtaining Grade G or better in six syllabuses was 96.39 per cent compared to 97.64 per cent in 2019.

The proportion of candidates obtaining Grade E or better stood at 65.36 per cent compared to 64.87 per cent in 2019 while credit grades,  C or better, the proportion of candidates was 21.17 per cent compared to 20.95 per cent in 2019, he stated.

He said performance showed a slight increase of 0.22 per cent at Grade C or better and a 0.49 per cent improvement at Grade E or better whereas Grade G or better shows a slight decline of 1.25 per cent.

Prof Mokopakgosi said while females outperformed their male counterparts at G or better, Grade E or better and Grade C or better, at grade A or better, males outperformed their female counterparts.

He said 19 candidates from 12 centres met the top achievers criterion of at least 6A* with the top two candidates achieving the highest level of performance in the history of the BGCSE.

One particular candidate attained straight 11A* across all subjects, he said..

The high performing institutions are Masunga Senior Secondary School with 43.45 per cent, followed by St Joseph’s College at 36.78 per cent and Naledi Senior Secondary School at 29.65.

A total of 36 557 candidates wrote the examination showing a small increase in candidature compared to the 2019 cohort of 36 508.

Male candidates numbered 15 297 or 41.84 per cent male and females 21 260 translating into 58.16 per cent.

Prof Mokopakgosi said candidates would be able to access the results through the BEC website as well as through SMS. ends