Students and parents check the results of matriculation exams on June 7 at Basic Education High School (1) in Lanmadaw township.

THE Ministry of Education on June 7 released the results of the Basic Education High School matriculation exams, with 30 percent of tested students nationwide scoring passing marks.

“The pass rate was slightly higher than that of last year, when 29.63pc of the exam takers passed,” said an official from the ministry.

The matriculation exams were held in March. Every year about 5 million students sit for the exams at thousands of testing centres around the country and abroad, said U Bo Win, director general of Education Planning and Training Department under the ministry.

“This year we had more students than usual sit the exam, nearly 6 million,” said a ministry official. “We think it’s because it’s the last year for exams under the old curriculum. Students are worried that the exams for the new curriculum will be harder.”

He said the new curriculum was introduced during the 2008-2009 academic year for Grade 9 and 10 students.

“The new curriculum is aimed at emphasising creativity and applied knowledge, and includes new facts and information that put the education system in closer conformity with international standards,” he said.

Dr Aung Ko Ko, the principal of Basic Education High School (1) in Dagon township, Yangon, said the pass rate at his school was well above the national average.

“Our pass rate for this year was 84.39pc. It’s lower than last year’s figure of 89.6pc for the school but we are quite happy because 72 students won distinctions in all subjects,” he said.