Sudan school certificate examinations kick-off Monday
March 16, 2008 (Khartoum NSV) - The Sudan School Certificate Examinations will commence tomorrow throughout Sudan with students from Darfur and South Sudan scheduled to participate with improved security this time.
Candidates sitting for this year's Sudan school certificate, meant to be a test for college entrance, will tackle the first paper, English language at 9am local time on Monday.
Some 400, 000 students from Sudan and few outside are set to sit in the exams this year, which are being prepared by personnel from ministries of education, finance and interior, according to the official estimates.
Last year there were 370440 students taking part in the exams. That means there is an increase of 29, 560 since last year, about 7.4 per cent more students than the previous year.
Southern Sudan and Darfur, regions that witnessed disruptions of Sudan School Certificate examinations in the past will participate with improved security this year. In northern Darfur, 7 examination centers will be held outside Fasher town, fully secured for students to have their examinations without sound of bullets, said the authorities.
There are about 23, 000 students from Darfur's three states taking part. Northern Darfur governor, Osman Yousif Kibir told Shurroq TV reporter in Fashir "Since 2003, we have been gathering students here in Fasher. There is improvement in security that is why we are having seven centers outside Fashir this year."
Among other subjects, the students will sit for sciences, commerce and arts. If this year's examination papers are successfully done with, the results are expected to be out between June and July of 2008. Students who pass and gain grades for college entrance will compete in the national intake that will allow them to join more than 20 universities and colleges in the country.
Universities of Khartoum, Juba and Gezira were considered prestigious. They are also the oldest in the country. The three schools lose international stature after the Arabicization and Islamicization policies of the Khartoum regime took roots from the 1950s onwards.
