Martile International Primary School’s first attempt at a public exam has recorded a hundred percent success at the just released National Primary School Examination (NPSE).as their five candidates passed with flying colours.
The school, which was established two years ago, entered five candidates and the least score was 315 marks, the highest grade of 354 marks was scored by Matene-Kumba Koroma
Others that contributed to the school’s success package included Leem Watfaa -350, Princess Williams -336, Matifnette Kamara-318 and Gerald Ephraim – 315.
However the school was not listed among the national top five primary schools that entered 90 candidates and below, as contained in the nation wide broadcast of Dr Alpha Tejan Wurie, the education minister.
In that broadcast he cited Tower Hill Kindgarten and Primary School as the leader with 325.89 average aggregate with an entry of 35 candidates, followed by Murray Deen Preparatory with an average aggregate of 325.13.
They entered 52 candidates, while Leone Preparatory Primary School with 27 candidates bagged an average of 323.67.
Topping the schools with 90 and above candidates was King Fahad Islamic Primary School situated at Old Wharf which entered 35 candidates and had an average aggregate of 303.97 to be followed by John F. Kennedy which had an entry of 138 candidates and an average of 302.61.
Bagging the laurel for the east was Henrietta Primary School in Kenema whose 66 candidates scored a 325.89 average aggregate score, closely followed by Good Shepard Primary School also in the same district.
The latter entered 22 candidates and had an aggregate score of 312.32.
In the north it was a success story for Modern Preparatory School in Makeni who with their 18 candidates scored an average aggregate of 317.56 in the five core subjects, while in the south it was Hermann Gmeiner International primary school in Bo who entered 21 candidates that have an average scoreline of 317.62.
The best candidate in this year’s examination is Nikhil Agnani of the International Primary School who scored 72 in quantitative aptitude, 68 in verbal aptitude, 69 in maths, 100 in English and 65 in General Paper totaling 374 scoreline.
The second best nationwide was Patrick Samura of Ronsabs Preparatory School with a 370 grand total and in third place was Dorinda Savage of Murray Deen Preparatory School with 369 marks.
The fourth national is Mohamed Kargbo of Hermann Gmeiner International Primary School in Bo.
According to Dr Wurie, “the performance of schools has varied tremendously, whilst the majority of schools have average aggregates that are greater than 230 and others below 200”.
He emphasized that, “almost all of the schools with average aggregates below 200 are in deprived rural areas that experience difficulties in recruiting trained and competent teachers,” indicating further that, “it is for this reason that the ministry of education, science and technology is endeavouring to re-instate ‘remote area allowances’ and also introduce other incentives aimed at getting teachers to areas of need.”