The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) has officially confirmed the release of the 2025 National Primary School Examination (NPSE).
According to the Ministry, a total of 171,112 pupils (88,494 girls and 82,618 boys) were entered for the NPSE nationwide, reflecting an increase of over 6,000 candidates compared to 2024. Of this number, 165,341 pupils sat at least one paper, while 5,771 candidates were absent, a worrying trend the Ministry says it is taking seriously and intends to investigate.
Out of those who sat the exams, 128,766 pupils (66,371 girls and 62,395 boys) scored the official cutoff mark of 230 and above, producing a national pass rate of 78.2%. Although boys had a marginally higher success rate (78.5%), more girls both sat and passed the exam, indicating ongoing progress in female education participation.
The top-performing pupil in the country is Mansaray Kadijah Yawa Joe, a female student of Dele Nursery & Preparatory School in Wellington, Freetown, who scored an exceptional T-score of 346. Minister Conrad Sackey extended his congratulations to her, commending her academic excellence.
Meanwhile, the International College of Makeni Primary School emerged as the best-performing school nationally, securing a 100% pass rate with the highest average aggregate score of 332.39.
Other notable high-performing institutions include:
Romans International Academy
Modern Academy School of Excellence
Therenisa Memorial Primary School (Bo)
Shalom Ville Schools
A total of 4,483 candidates scored 300 or above, including 2,424 girls and 2,059 boys, showing a positive shift in high-achieving student numbers.
Despite the overall success, Minister Sackey raised concerns about the continued increase in absenteeism, with this year marking the second consecutive rise. The Ministry has pledged to conduct a full investigation into the root causes, which may include social, economic, or logistical challenges affecting access to the exams.
In a strong message on exam integrity, the Minister also warned against any attempts to cheat or manipulate the exam system, stressing that the Ministry will continue to strengthen its monitoring frameworks. He warned that those found guilty of malpractice will face serious disciplinary action.
The Ministry has already begun dispatching result packages to schools, while a detailed technical report analyzing district-level performance will be published on the official MBSSE website next week.
