Freetown, Sierra Leone – The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) has officially confirmed the release of the 2025 National Primary School Examination (NPSE) results, weeks ahead of schedule.

The announcement was made by Minister Conrad Sackey via his official social media page on July 17th.

According to Minister Sackey, this year’s NPSE results were delivered to the Ministry by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) nearly a month earlier than last year’s release date of August 12th.

He highlighted that the early release would enable the Ministry to fast-track school placements and improve planning for the upcoming academic year.

Key Statistics and Performance Breakdown

A total of 171,112 pupils registered for the examination nationwide, comprising 88,494 girls and 82,618 boys — an increase of over 6,000 entries compared to the previous year. Of those registered, 165,341 pupils sat at least one paper, while 5,771 candidates were recorded as absent, a figure higher than last year’s absentee numbers.

The Ministry has committed to investigating the causes of this growing trend.

Minister Sackey revealed that 128,766 candidates (comprising 66,371 girls and 62,395 boys) met or surpassed the official cutoff score of 230, representing a national pass rate of 78.2%. Although boys achieved a marginally higher pass rate (78.5%) compared to girls (77.9%), more girls both entered for and successfully passed the examination overall.

Top Performers and Outstanding Schools

The highest individual score — an impressive 346 T-score — was secured by Mansaray Kadijah Yawa Joe, a female pupil of Dele Nursery & Preparatory School in Wellington.

Minister Sackey extended heartfelt congratulations to her for this remarkable achievement.

In terms of school performance, International College of Makeni Primary School topped the rankings, boasting a 100% pass rate and the highest average aggregate score of 332.39. Other schools singled out for exceptional results included Romans International Academy, Modern Academy School of Excellence, Therenisa Memorial Primary School (Bo), and Shalom Ville Schools.

More girls than boys appeared in the top five candidate rankings this year. Additionally, 4,483 pupils — comprising 2,424 girls and 2,059 boys — achieved scores of 300 or above, marking yet another improvement from last year’s figures.

Addressing Challenges and Next Steps

Despite the positive results, Minister Sackey expressed concern over the continued rise in absenteeism and issued a strong warning against any attempts to cheat or undermine the examination process, stating that monitoring and enforcement measures are being strengthened.

Result packages are already being dispatched to schools, with a more detailed technical report — including district-level performance data — set to be published on the MBSSE website next week. Pupils seeking secondary school admission will be required to present their official result slip, duly signed by their head teacher, along with their primary school leaving certificate.

Minister’s Final Words of Encouragement

Minister Sackey extended his gratitude to head teachers, classroom teachers, parents, and education officers for their unwavering efforts in preparing students for this crucial examination. He congratulated successful candidates while encouraging those who did not meet the pass mark to remain determined and not lose hope.

“Our journey in education continues,” he said. “We are committed to ensuring better teaching and learning outcomes for every child in Sierra Leone. Together, we will keep rising.”

Tags: Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE)National Primary School Examination (NPSE)