Junior Lyceums pass rate tops 67%

A record 67.05 percent of pupils have passed this year's Junior Lyceum entrance exams, with girls doing slightly better than boys, the Education Ministry said.

Parents are receiving the results by SMS today and by mail tomorrow.

A total of 2,143passed out of 3,196 who sat for the exams, achieving a pass rate 65.6 percent for boys and 68.7 percent for girls. 53 boys and 67 girls achieved A s in all five exams - Maltese, English, Maths, Religion and Social Studies.

Last year's pass rate was 6.3 percent lower than this year. The ministry explained that the number of candidates was down by 429 over last year because of a declining school population and the fact that children at Stella Maris School, Balzan, would now proceed automatically to St Aloysius College.

There were 399 candidates who failed one subject, either English or Maths and will have a resit. No candidate failed only in Maltese, Religion or Social Studies.

The ministry said the success rate was spread across the island. In Cospicua seven out of 22 pupils passed, in Senglea, six out of 15, Vittoriosa 9 out of 20, Kalkara, 23 out of 33, Zabbar, 86 from 150, Fgura 83 from 131, Attard 45 from 54, Għargħur 9 from 12, Mellieħa 42 from 52, and Gozo 277 from 352.