Selections for Grade 11 students for 2017 were completed today in Port Moresby.
Out of 63,000 Grade 10 students from 263 provincial high and secondary schools nationwide, about 25 000 are eligible to continue to Year 11 in 2017.
These include about 15,191 males and 9,731 females.
This was confirmed by the Department of Education (DoE) following the one week selection exercise done by principals and guidance teachers from schools all over the country.
DoE revealed that few provinces are graduating more Grade 10 students with good marks but they’re not able to select everyone due to the limited number of secondary schools in the province.
The remainder of the students not eligible for Grade 11 has the opportunity to enroll at vocational and technical schools and also upgrade at Flexible Open Distance Education (FODE).
The top 10 academic performing schools are St Charles Lwanga High (NCD), Jubilee Catholic Secondary (NCD), Marianville Secondary (NCD), Cameron Secondary (Milne Bay), Oksapmin High (West Sepik), St Ignatius Secondary (West Sepik), Mercy Yarapos Secondary (East Sepik), James Chalmers Memorial High (Milne Bay), Gordon Secondary (NCD) and Bishop Leo Secondary (East Sepik).
These schools have students that topped the country in the national examinations.
For the first time this year, the schools were recognised for their achievement and were presented with the Secretary Excellence Award.
23 schools received the award today including the top 10 best performing schools in 2016 for Grade 12 and the most improved schools in each category.
The most improved for Grade 10 are Lae Secondary (Morobe) and Muaina Secondary (Simbu).
Acting secretary for education Dr Uke Kombra said the Awards will be done annually as the government wants to see that every student succeeds.
Kombra said, “We must recognise some schools that are doing exceptionally well so that they will inspire other schools that are not doing so well.
“At the same time, we also looked at the schools that are improving where we recognise the schools that have improved a lot over the last three years to motivate the schools that are not doing too well.”
Kombra confirmed that the complete report of the selections will be done by next week and will be sent out to all the provinces.
Grade 12 selection is scheduled for next week in Port Moresby.