ACSEE exam centres 2024: A closer look at division O results in Dar es Salaam
What you need to know:
- An analysis conducted by The Citizen on various exam centres in Dar es Salaam revealed that some centres, which gathered students from multiple schools for the exams, had significant numbers of failing students
Dar es Salaam. At least 78 students in Dar es Salaam Region scored Division O in the recently released Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (ACSEE) results for 2024, barring their entry into higher education institutions.
This is despite the National Examination Council of Tanzania (NECTA) showing a notable improvement in overall performance countrywide.
An analysis conducted by The Citizen on various exam centres in Dar es Salaam revealed that some centres, which gathered students from multiple schools for the exams, had significant numbers of failing students.
This analysis highlights the centres with the highest number of Division O scores, painting a complex picture of the city's educational landscape.
Mbezi Beach Secondary Centre emerged as the leader, with 28 candidates scoring Division O, the highest among the centres analysed.
Despite this, the centre also had notable successes, with 4 students scoring Division I, 40 scoring Division II, 118 scoring Division III, and 40 scoring Division IV.
Pugu Secondary School Centre had 17 students scoring Division O. However, it also had a fair share of high performers, with 6 candidates attaining Division I, 36 achieving Division II, 73 obtaining Division III, and 34 getting Division IV.
Azania Secondary School Centre had 8 students in Division O and no candidates in Division I. The results skewed towards lower divisions, with 1 student in Division II, 10 in Division III, and 15 in Division IV.
Other notable centres included Makongo Secondary School Centre, which had 6 students with Division O, 13 with Division IV, 24 with Division III, 9 with Division II, and 1 with Division I.
Mbezi High School Centre had 6 students with Division O, 7 with Division IV, 27 with Division III, 16 with Division II, and 2 with Division I. Temeke Teachers’ Resource Centre had 5 students with Division O, 3 with Division II, 7 with Division III, and 3 with Division IV, with no students achieving Division I.
Kigamboni Secondary School Centre had 2 students with Division O, 6 with Division IV, 6 with Division III, 5 with Division II, and 1 with Division I. Jangwani Secondary School had 2 students with Division O, 1 with Division IV, 52 with Division III, 45 with Division II, and 13 with Division I.
Kibasila Secondary School Centre produced 2 students with Division O, 2 with Division IV, 83 with Division III, 145 with Division II, and 64 with Division I. Kinondoni Secondary School Centre produced 2 students with Division O, 1 with Division IV, 5 with Division III, 2 with Division II, and 1 with Division I.
The mixed results have sparked a debate among education stakeholders. An education analyst, Mr Ibrahimu Msofe, argues for more transparency in the examination process.
"Performance has improved overall, but transparency must be reinstated. The government should restore the practice of making school results public to foster competition and accountability," he told The Citizen.
However, another education expert, Dr Thomas Jabir, opposes this view. "Ranking schools and students creates societal divisions. Some private schools turned this into a business, increasing exam cheating. We should not return to that practice," he said.
Dr Jabir emphasised the need for alternative paths for students who score Division O. "Students with Division O should not lose hope. There are conditions in some schools that make it difficult to perform well in national exams. These students should consider vocational colleges to continue their education, especially in skills training," he advised.
NECTA's decision to stop ranking schools and students is rooted in fairness. "It is unfair to single out one student among many schools compared to another who did not study in similar environments," NECTA officials stated.
The ACSEE results for 2024 reveal both successes and challenges in Dar es Salaam's education system. While many students have excelled, the significant number of Division O scores cannot be ignored.
Stakeholders continue to debate the best ways to address these disparities and ensure that all students have opportunities to succeed.
The debate highlights the complexity of educational outcomes and the need for nuanced solutions that consider the diverse environments in which students learn.
