Central Data Catalog

The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) has been administered annually since 1987 by the Department of Examination, Ministry of Education to grade 10 (ISCED 2) students in general education programmes in public and private schools.

Along with the SSC, grade 10 students also sit the Cambridge International Examination (CIE). See separate Catalogue entry for the Cambridge International Examination.

The SSC is a high-stake examination that certifies completion of lower secondary general education programmes in two local subjects that are not assessed in the Cambridge International Examination.

The SSC is a written examination, administered face-to-face and delivered through paper-pencil tests. All test-takers are presented with the same cognitive booklets or tests, which are aligned with the national curriculum.

The SSC serves the following purposes:

- student certification for completion of lower secondary general education programmes

- student selection to higher education programmes or admission into specific courses or tracks

- school or educator accountability

- promoting competition among schools

- sub-national level monitoring of learning outcomes

- monitoring education quality levels

- planning education policy reforms

The SSC accommodates students with special needs, by providing the following arrangements:

- Hearing impairment: sign language interpreters, transcription of instructions and tests questions, additional time

- Physical disability: support of a writer

- Emotional disturbance: additional time

- Speech language impairment: additional time

- Environmental effect: additional time

Census (all students at the given grades or ages)

Results are reported at the student, school, sub-national and national levels. Data are disaggregated by sex, geographic location (urban and rural), major cities and type of schools (public and private).

Results are published in reports, which are available in print and online. Examination results are broadcasted on the radio and on television, and are published in the media.