South Sudan’s Ministry of General Education and Instruction on Tuesday released the results of the 2025 Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) examinations, with Darling Wisdom Academy Secondary School dominating the list of the country’s top-performing candidates.
Education Minister Kuyok Abol Kuyok said 45,776 candidates sat for the examinations, which were conducted between Dec. 1 and Dec. 9, 2025, in 521 secondary schools across the country.
Of the candidates who took the examinations, 36,950 passed, representing an overall pass rate of 80.7%.
According to the ministry, 46,153 candidates had registered for the examinations, including 26,768 males and 19,385 females. However, 377 candidates — 236 males and 141 females — were absent.
Male candidates recorded a pass rate of 81%, slightly higher than the 79.2% achieved by female candidates. The ministry said the performance was consistent with the previous year’s results.
The top-performing candidate nationwide was Maduet Mangong Maduet of Darling Wisdom Academy Secondary School’s Pentagon Campus, who scored 88.9% in the arts section.
Second place went to Malual Aluong Riak, also from Darling Wisdom Academy’s Pentagon Campus, with 88.5% in science.
Four candidates shared third place with scores of 88.3% in science: Kenyi Lado Lawon of Juba Integrated High School, and Manyang Machot Lony, Marial Alier Garang, and Omiyang William Mario, all from Darling Wisdom Academy Secondary School’s Pentagon Campus.
The tenth position was shared by Arech Atem Deng of Legacy Global Academy Secondary School, Peter Kur Geu of Darling Wisdom Academy Secondary School’s Pentagon Campus, and Teresa Ayen Maker of Darling Wisdom Academy’s Nana Campus, each scoring 87.3%.
The results underscored Darling Wisdom Academy’s dominance, with the school accounting for 10 of the 13 students who appeared in the national top-10 ranking because of tied positions.
Other schools represented among the country’s highest achievers included Juba Integrated High School, Juba Academy Secondary School and Legacy Global Academy Secondary School.
In the female category, Nyaduok Chuol Dep emerged as the best-performing candidate with 88.0% in science from Darling Wisdom Academy Secondary School’s Pentagon Campus.
She was followed by Awur Madol Anyuat, who scored 87.6%, also from the Pentagon Campus.
The ministry also announced the top performers in the technical and commercial sections.
In the technical section, Mary Kujang Joseph ranked first with 81.1%, followed by Matiok Deng Matiok with 79.8%, Wani Richard Zakaria with 79.1%, Alfred Loputo Cosmas with 79.0%, and Martha Mario Wani and Michael Tangun Justin, who jointly placed fifth with 78.1%.
In the commercial section, James Morbe Lado emerged as the top candidate with 73.6%. He was followed by Dominic Odom Felix with 70.8%, Victoria Sitima Thomas with 70.4%, Noel Felix Emmanuel with 70.1% and Christina Foni Tombek with 69.4%.
The South Sudan National Examinations Council said Christian Religious Education, Agriculture and Biology were among the most improved subjects, while some subjects remained challenging for candidates.
The council also nullified the results of Nimule Model Secondary School in Eastern Equatoria State after finding what it described as serious violations of examination rules and regulations.
Results for 87 candidates from the school were cancelled, while 23 other candidates received zero scores in connection with the same cheating case.
Minister Kuyok commended teachers, students, parents, examination officials and other stakeholders for their efforts in ensuring the successful administration of the examinations and the timely release of results.
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