The Minister of Education and Training, Prof. Ntoi Rapapa on Wednesday announced the 2023 Lesotho General Certificate in Secondary Education (LGCSE) results in which he said there is an overall 53 percent pass rate, an increase from 47.3 percent in 2022.

He said 18 335 students sat for the examinations in 2023, a decline from 27 474 in 2022, saying this is because 2023 is the first time that they only had Grade 11 students unlike in 2022 where they had Grade 11s and Form Es.

This year, Mafeteng has ranked in the 1st place with 57.6% as the district with the best performance followed by Qacha’s Nek, Leribe, Thaba-Tseka, Maseru, Mohale’s Hoek, Botha-Bothe, Berea, Mokhotlong and Quthing being the last with 38.1 percent. While 563 students are top achievers, all from different schools which is a decline from 1 055 in 2022.

On the other hand, the well-performed subjects are Sesotho, coming second is English, Physical Science and Mathematics respectively.

“On overall Sesotho came top with 58.6%, followed by English with 26%, Physical Science came third with 22.1% and Mathematics fourth with 11.2 percent,” he said.

Moreover, he mentioned that for the top 10 best performing schools, Leribe English Medium School came first with 24 percent followed by Holy Family High School, Mohale’s Hoek English Medium School, St. Stephens Diocesan High School, Likileng English Medium School, Cana High School, Kings Gate High School, Yuan Tong High School, Khethisa High School and Tšakholo High School.

‘Mapitso Ramokotjo of Leqele High School and Tanki Makau from Leribe English Medium High School outshone their counterparts scoring five A*, becoming the top students. They are followed by Katleho Mpemi from Leribe English Medium, Itumeleng Thoahlaka of Leribe English Medium, Emmanuel Kabelo Latela of Leqele High, Liako Khechane of St. Thomas High, Elphis Penyana from Likileng English Medium and Monaheng Maema of Kings Gate High with four A*.

The top 3 are Kananelo Khoarai from Tšakholo High School, Leah Moletsane of St. Stephens Diocesan High School, Mabote David Letebele of Lesotho High School, Tlhokomelo Lebusa of Holy Family High School and Ntokolo Thaba-Nchu of Leqele High School.

The top 4 are Lehlohonolo Lehasa of Leribe English Medium School and Karabo Mathibela from Tšakholo High School.

The top 5 are Molebatsi Motumi of St. Stephens Diocesan High School, Khoboso Motselebane from Leqele High School, Rethabile Kokolo of Sacred Heart High School and Keletso Letšoara from Assumption High School.

The top 6 are Lintle Thaanyane of Leribe English Medium School and Paballo Seeli of Likileng English Medium.

Minister Rapapa congratulated all the students who performed well and encouraged those who did not pass to not lose hope and work hard so that they get better results in the future.

He thanked the Ministry of Social Development for its unwavering support to students as well as parents, schools and teachers. He further commended ECOL for conducting examinations with transparency.

In a brief interview, an overwhelmed ‘Mapitso Ramokotjo said that she still does not believe it saying that this is the result of her hard work and prayer emphasising that she achieved all this through God’s grace.

She encouraged her peers who did not pass to not give up saying that they should do all they can to get better results and go to university.

Out of 18 335 students, 1 988 did not sit for the examinations.

The results will be officially available through SMSes, www.gov.ls, the ministry’s and ECOL’s website on Thursday.

Source: LENA 17/01/2024