02 Feb 2026

Following the release of the 2025 Junior Certificate Examination (JCE) results, Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Ms Nono Kgafela-Mokoka, has stated that no learner, regardless of the grade attained, will be left unaccounted for.
While the results showed improvement, with the overall pass rate for the 2025 cohort standing at 83.7 per cent, Ms Kgafela-Mokoka and the Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) Board revealed during a media briefing in Gaborone that the cut-off point for progression to mainstream senior secondary education would be Grade D.
However, It was noted that not all Grade D candidates may transition into mainstream senior schools.
In light of this, the minister assured the public that no learner would be left unaccounted for, as all learners would transition into alternative government programmes such as the Out-of-School Project, Bula Buka, a transformative government initiative aimed at empowering out-of-school youth through education, skills training, and character development.
She further highlighted that the ongoing transformation of the education agenda, which is shifting toward a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM)-based curriculum, would ensure that Form 3 learners who did not meet the minimum requirements for entry into mainstream schools transitioned seamlessly into the Technical and Vocational Education and Training sector or other government programmes aligned with their vocational strengths.
“As government, we are working to end the pattern of learners who fail Form 3 being left on the streets,” said Ms Kgafela-Mokoka, adding that efforts were underway to introduce a multiple-certification system that would allow learners to acquire diverse, lifelong skills.
She also reiterated that the ministry was advancing toward a digitalised education system, including borderless and smart classrooms, to ensure that every learner had access to quality education.
Ms Kgafela-Mokoka lauded the 2025 JCE cohort for improving on the 2024 performance, noting that 43 candidates attained merit awards, compared to 16 candidates in the previous year. ENDS