01 Feb 2022

The 1.7 per cent decline recorded in the 2021 Junior Certificate Examination (JCE) results has been attributed to COVID-19 related challenges.

Addressing the media in Gaborone following the release of the results yesterday, Minister of Basic Education, Mr Fidelis Molao noted that last year’s performance stood at 79.02 per cent compared to the 80.72 per cent recorded in 2020.

He said although the ministry worked tirelessly to support teachers and learners, COVID-19 related challenges marred the schooling pattern and affected the second and third years of the 2021 cohort.

“The COVID-19 pandemic protocols may have negated the gains that could have been made. Although the 2020 cohort was also affected, the 2021s endured the pandemic over a stretch of two years with lockdowns and delayed school terms among others. The 2021 candidates were either infected or affected by the pandemic while some lost contact time because they were on isolation,” he said.

Covering both government and private schools as well as private candidates,  overall performance indicates that 13 candidates obtained merit, 543 Grade A, 4 176 Grade B, 10 322 Grade  C, 15 365 Grade D and 6 112 Grade E.

Six thousand seven hundred and forty four (6 744)  candidates were ungraded while 2 955 did not meet the minimum requirement for the award of a qualification and therefore were denoted X.

The 23 629 females who sat for the examination outperformed their 22 603 male counterparts especially in grades C or better.

Minister Molao said relevant stakeholders would research on the matter and come up with possible ways of addressing challenges that led to the boy-child’s poor performance.

He commended teachers and other stakeholders in the basic education system for remaining steadfast in the face of COVID-19 pandemic.

The commitment put in by all teachers made it possible for learners to complete their syllabus and get ready for the examination, said Mr Molao.

A total of 46 232 candidates sat for the 2021 examination compared to 43 883 in 2020, about seven per cent increase in candidature. Ends