The 2025 Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) examinations officially began today across South Sudan, with 84,815 candidates from 1,953 schools starting their national tests in 551 examination centers.
Vice President and Chairperson of the Service Cluster, H.E. Josephine Lagu, sounded the opening bell at Juba One Boys Primary School, formally launching this year’s exams.
Lagu issued a strong directive to all supervisors, invigilators, monitors, and security personnel to uphold strict professionalism throughout the exam period.
She emphasized that the integrity of the national examinations must be protected at all costs.
“Uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and neutrality. Safeguard the credibility of the examination process… Let there be no room for malpractice or interference,” she said.
Minister of General Education Dr. Kuyok Abol Kuyok appealed to candidates to avoid cheating and trust their preparation, while thanking teachers nationwide for their resilience amid challenging conditions. He encouraged candidates to work hard to transition to Senior One.
Dr. Kuyok also announced that the 2025 academic year will officially start on 2 February, with marking of exam papers scheduled to begin immediately after the exams to ensure timely release of results.
He highlighted the historical significance of Juba One Boys Primary School and pledged cooperation with Central Equatoria authorities to complete the school’s perimeter fence to improve security for learners.
Representing Central Equatoria State, Deputy Governor Paulino Lokudu urged candidates to seize the opportunity to further their education.
“Make sure you use your pens to take you to another level… Work hard, and we want to see you progressing,” he said.
Lokudu further called for strengthened collaboration between the state government and the Ministry of General Education to address critical challenges in public schools, including land protection, safeguarding infrastructure, and improving learning conditions.
As the CPE examinations continue through Friday, 28 November, national and state leaders reaffirmed their commitment to delivering a fair, secure, and credible examination process across South Sudan.
