Basic education: final year pupils anxious as they await common entrance results
By Stephen Tadaha
Final year pupils in various primary schools across the country on Thursday May 11th 2023 sat in for their common entrance and entree en 6ème exams which if successful, will give them access to secondary schools.
In Babadjou subdivision, 201 candidates turned out for the exams at Government Bilingual Primary School Babadjou Toumaka examination center where the exams went on hitchfree as planned by authorities.
“I am impressed by the turnout this day and everything went on well as we did not get any complaint from any child. Everyone was present. Now we are waiting for Bafoussam for the results as we parcel the scripts and send there,” the head of the examination center, Aloysius, told us
At Government Bilingual Practicing School Mbouda, out of the 297 candidates who registered, 294 candidates answered present and 3 were absent. Among those who wrote at the examination center, were candidates from GBPS Bafemgha which was destroyed by heavy rains during the Easter holiday period. The school presented a total of 19 candidates who all answered present for the exams. Reports from the center have it that the exams also went on hitchfree to the satisfaction of the Headteacher of the school, Mafofou Fopa Leonette.
“Our children at Government Bilingual Primary School Bafemgha just like other children, took part in the common entrance this day just like other pupils. No absence nor major incident was recorded. This day has passed and I would like to tell my kids that they should remain concentrated for the First School Leaving Certificate will come up on June 6 and 7 this year. They have to always be present in school to get themselves ready for the exams. We also call on parents to give their children the necessary time for the exams for it is now that they have to be preparing.”
The candidates were all tested in dictation, English language, reading comprehension and Mathematics.
Candidates on their part, are hopeful of succeeding in the exams even though most of them say they had difficulties in subjects like Mathematics and English language.
“My name is Junior Yves Fru from GBPS Babadjou Toumaka. I wrote my common entrance very well and I know I will pass even though I had difficulties in dictation and Mathematics,” a candidate told us.
“My name is Babila Minette and I am from GBPS Bachua. I wrote a total of 5 papers this day and I think I will pass even though I had difficulties in English paper II,” another candidate told us.
In the French subsystem of education, over 1000 candidates turned out for the entrée en 6ème exams in 6 examination sub centers in Babadjou subdivision. The major observation this year in the subdivision is the increasing number of candidates who go in to knock at the doors of technical schools.
Of the 1 031 candidates who wrote, 589 scrambled for the two technical schools in the subdivision while 442 others went in to the for the four general secondary schools. A worrisome situation according to Ashu Clement, Principal and head of the GBHS Bachua examination sub center.
“Last year I had over 60 candidates which made my center an examination center. This year I received just 48 candidates with all the schools we have in Bachua. I don’t know what is wrong. Parents should try to bring their children to the general education system. Why are they taking them only to technical schools?”
Candidates are now in suspense as they wait for results that will be made public in the days ahead and in just less than a month they will again be sitting in for the First School Leaving Certificate and the Certificat d’étude Primaire.
